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1999 - online version
A CATHOLIC VIEWS ZIONISM |
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by Fr. James Heinsch ofm Tiberias is one of the famous places along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In fact, St. John, in his Gospel refers to the Sea of Galilee as the "Sea of Tiberias," (John 21:1). Yet hidden along this Western shoreline, with a long, narrow entry way, is hidden a gem of a church dating all the way back to the Crusader times. The Church of St. Peter. It is one of the few Crusader Churches still in existence. You can see its bell-tower well enough, but you will have to search in order to find the narrow entry-way that leads to it. It is one of the overlooked "pearls" of Galilee. HISTORY OF TIBERIAS Tiberias was founded by Herod Antipas in 17 AD. Originally South of the modern city, it was built over a Necropolis named Hammat. Finsihed in the year 22 AD, it was given the name "Tiberias" by Herod to honor the Roman Emperor Tiberias Caesar. The greatest number of houses in Old Tiberias were built of basalt stone, set closely together. The streets, with the exception of a few paved with asphalt, were covered with small basalt gravel. The twists and turns, reminiscent of the ancient medieval town. With fertile soil , due to the proximity of the lake, public baths with their hot springs, it became a place quite suitable for relaxation and restful cures. Faithful Jews, however, refused to live there because it was built over a burial site. For this reason, Herod settled Gentiles and low-class Jews to whom he gave considerable privileges. Thus Tiberias, was initially inhabited by pagans. From his youthful years spent in Rome, Herod brought his love of amusements and magnificent buildings to Tiberias. It had a forum, a stadium, and public baths. For the Jews he convinced to live there, Herod built a synagogue. For himself, he built a grand palace adorned with representations of animals (contrary to Jewish custom). Soon, around 61 AD, Tiberias became the Capital of Galilee, usurping the place once Sepphoris held. During the Jewish War that ended with the destruction of Jerusalem, Tiberias found itself divided into two camps: one favored the revolt, the other was ready to collaborate with the Romans. The latter view prevailed, and the Roman armies took over Tiberias without striking a single blow. They gave it back to their faithful ally Agrippa. In 100 AD, after Agrippa’s death, Tiberias came under the administration of the Roman procurator of Judea. In the immediate following centuries, the Jews, now expelled from Jerusalem, flocked to Tiberias in great numbers. It even became the home of the Rabbinic school. It became the religious, intellectual, and administrative center for the scattered Jewish nation. The famous Rabbi Judah I, called "The Holy" (Ha Kodesh) composed the Mishnah at the beginning of the 3rd century. Later on, Jochanan completed Judah’s work by extablishing a definitive text of the Holy Books of the Bible in the Massorah. Christianity appeared in Tiberias in the 4th century. It spread rapidly through the efforts of a certain Joseph, a prominent Jewish resident of the city who converted to Christianity. Constantine raised Joseph to the title of Count of Galilee. Joseph, however, soon encountered hostility from his former Jewish associates when he attempted to create a Christian church out of an unfinished pagan temple called the Hadrianum. Under Constantine’s protection, Tiberias became a Christian community where a bishop resided. We do not know the name of the first Bishop of Tiberias. However, subsequent bishops were known. For example: the second bishop was named John. He attended the Council of Ephesus in 449. From the 7th century onward, there were successive takeovers. In 614 AD, the Persians entered Palestine. They marched through Tiberias without hindrance. A strong group of Jews, living in Tiberias, opened the gates for them and allowed them swift passage toward Jerusalem. The city was again retaken by the Byzantines only 14 years later. Finally, in 637 AD, the Arabs under the leadership of Caliph Omar took Tiberias. They made it their Capital of Jordan (which included Galilee and the region of the Jordan River). Until the Crusaders finally came, the city remained under Moslem control. In the 12 century AD, the Crusaders conquered Tiberias and made it the Capital of a new principality of Galilee, with Tancred governing it. During this period, it became an impregnable stronghold. Its approaches were defended by a surrounding wall, and its most vulnerable points by rugged circular towers. Through Tancred’s efforts, Tiberias became a Christian Capital in the truest sense. They built a Cathedral for the episcopal see, as suffragan to the Bishop of Nazareth. Crusader rule in Tiberias, however, lasted less than a century. In 1247, the Egyptians massacred the garrison and the entire Christian population. The Egyptians held it under 1517, when they were replaced by the Turks. Under the Ottoman reign, Tiberias lost all importance, even its city status. This "forgotten" condition lasted until the end of the 18th century. |
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Around 1776, Jews again began to migrate to Tiberias. Tiberias, along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Safed, were considered their "holy cities." A Rabbinic legend held that the Messiah would come forth from the lake, would land in Tiberias, and make his way to Safed, finally establishing his throne on one of the highest mountain peaks in Galilee. Following a violent earthquake in 1837, Tiberias was almost totally destroyed. Reduced to a pile of ruins, most of the outer defensive walls were destroyed, leaving only a few remnants from the Crusader times to be seen. There are four towers to the North of the city. Bastions that faced the sea from the North and South of the city still stand. Recent archaeological discoveries have revealed some pillars of the ancient Crusader Cathedral. You can find them in the courtyard of the Jordan River Hotel. They are near the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the hotel has put children’s playground equipment right in the midst of this archaeological site. In 1946, the city had a population of some 12,000 inhabitants: mostly Jewish and Moslem, with a small group of Latin and Greek Catholics. Today, except for a few Christians and of course the Church of St. Peter, Tiberias is almost entirely Jewish. Situated some 208 meters below sea-level, Tiberias thrives as an ideal winter haven with its balmy climate. Needless to say, the summer months can be very warm? THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER
The name of the Church as well as the art work inside it call to mind the Gospel narrative of the "First Miraculous Catch of Fish" along with the Calling of Peter and Andrew as Apostles (Matthew 4: 18-22 and Luke 5: 1-11). Most of the tradition for locating the first catch near Tiberias dates back to the year 1187. The very form of the early Crusader church was meant to commemorate this Gospel event. The Church of St. Peter had one nave and narrow windows similar to portholes. It represented the hull of an overturned boat, whose bow was visible on the outside of the apse. The Bark of Peter! A traditional symbol of the Church, whose head, the Roman Pontiff, heard the command of Christ saying "push out to the deep waters." Up to the 16th century AD, Franciscans would come from Nazareth on the feast-day of St. Peter. Moslems controlled the church at that time, and often used it as a stable for animals. The friars would have to clean out the church before preparing to celebrate the Eucharist. We do not know when the Franciscans finally obtained possession of the sanctuary. It is believed that they received the necessary documents (firmans) around 1641. Until this time, they had to pay exorbitant tax fees just to come and pray in the church. And most likely, they still had to pay several more times before they finally received the Church of St. Peter as rightful owners. We only know that a new decree (firman) was granted in 1697, exempting the friars from all payment of tolls, whether alone or with pilgrims who wished to enter Tiberias. Yet, it was only in 1847, after again giving a considerable sum of money, that the friars were able to begin repair work. The Church was repaired inside, and a neo-classical facade was built at the entrance of the Church. Many of the statues came from the Studios of the Delin Brothers of Paris. The large painted scene in the apse of the church is of more recent origin. An artist by the name of Edward S. Patzolt painted it in 1902. The name of Simon Bar Jona is written on the boat, with St. Peter at the till. Within the painting, you might notice the coat-of-arms of the Holy See, with the Tiara nd the Keys, plus the coat-of-arms of the Franciscan Order and the Custody of the Holy Land. |
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In front of the Church are two interesting art pieces. The statue of St. Peter sitting is a replica of the famous statue found inthe Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. It was given to the sanctuary by the second French "Pilgrimage of Penance" in 1883. The chains along the sides of the pedestal are similar to those which are kept in the Church of St. Peter-in-chains in Rome (the chains said to have bound St. Peter). In the outer courtyard, quite near to the statue of St. Peter, stands the most recent addition of art: a Monument to the Virgin of Czestochowa.. Dedicated in 1945, Polish soldiers of the Third Army erected this in memory of their stay in the Casa Nova of Tiberias. The General Command collected funds and employed the soldiers themselves to build it. The Monument is semi-circular in shape. The face of the Virgin of Chestochowa adorns the center altar, with a Polish boy and girl on either side to express hope, and the wish for resurrection of their distant country under the standard of the life-giving cross. (Their prayers were answered!) At the base of the monument are carved the words fides and caritas (faith and charity). Four other bas-reliefs represent St. Michael the Archangel, St. Christopher, a Medieval knight, and a soldier of the Third Army holding in one hand the Polish flag with its eagle, and the other hand holding a Cross to the skies. It seems to say: In hoc signo vinces! (By this standard, you will conquer!) At the ends of the semicircle are the coat-of-arms of Leopolis, Vilna, Gdansk, Poznan, Krakow, and Warsaw. The artist and designer of this monument was Lieutenant Thaddeus Zielinski of the Third Army. Finally, the soldiers left two very meaningful inscriptions with their work. The first says: "To you, Queen of the Realm of Poland, with firm faith in the restoration of its freedom and greatness by your maternal protection over your country and your people, the soldiers of the Third Polish Army with grateful souls offer you this humble work of their own hands." And the other inscription reads: "The Polish soldiers of the Near East (gave this) to the Friars Minor of St. Francis, guardians of the Holy Land, in memory of their hospitality in the Casa Nova of Tiberias. A fitting tribute from faithful Polish pilgrims who journeyed for a time in this Holy Land! For those who do not know what a Casa Nova is, it is a hostel which is open for pilgrims to stay in while they journey in the Holy Land. The prices are decidedly lower than hotel costs, to keep in mind the budgets of many pilgrims. The Casa Nova in Tiberias, built in 1903, has been recently, beautifully renovated. Although the Casa Nova of Tiberias primarily offers Bed and Breakfast facilities, they do have a small kitchenette where guests can prepare their own meals if they so wish. For pilgrims and pilgrim-leaders, the Casa Nova is an ideal, inexpensive place to stay while visiting the Galilee area. I would highly recommend that you look into it. In the evening, the balcony overlooking the Sea of Galilee is wonderful ... and it fits every pilgrim’s "pocket-book" quite comfortably. It has 25 rooms with two beds (4 of these have three beds), and two dormitories (6 beds each). The Casa Nova borders the Church of St. Peter on the North side. The Franciscan Friary borders the Church on the South. The church is open for pilgrim groups to come and pray, and for Eucharistic celebrations. It is necessary to call the friary in advance to make sure of time-reservations. One thing for sure, I have no doubt that you will find it a beautiful place for prayer. © copyright 1999 |
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