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Cana, Israel (Khirbet Qana)

City:
Cana
State, Province, Region, or District:
Northern District, Galilee Region
Country:
Israel

Overview

Various significant events from the Bible took place in Cana, including:​


  • Jesus changed water into wine here, which was His first public miracle at the beginning of His ministry.

  • Jesus healed an official’s son here.

  • Nathanael, one of Christ's close followers and a close friend (or possibly a brother) of the Apostle Philip, was from Cana.

  • The Apostle Philip led Nathanael, who was from Cana, to Christ.


Cana’s actual location is uncertain with scholars and archaeologists focusing primarily on three potential sites:


  1. Kafr Kanna (or Kefar Kenna): Located in the Lower Galilee about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Nazareth. This is the most established site and has been the traditional destination for Christian pilgrims since the 8th century. It features the Franciscan Wedding Church.


  2. Khirbet Qana (This Page): Situated approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) north of Nazareth in the Bet Netofa Valley. This site has gained significant backing from modern scholars and archaeologists due to findings like ancient ritual baths, a synagogue, and early Christian veneration caves.


  3. Qana: A village located in southern Lebanon. Some scholars and historians suggest this region, which was once a part of historical Galilee, is the true location of the biblical town.

Alternate Names

Cana; Khirbet Qana; Kh. Qana

Geography & Location

Cana’s actual location is uncertain with scholars and archaeologists focusing primarily on three potential sites:

Biblical, Historical, & Archaeological Background Information

The site was settled during the middle Bronze period (2200 – 1550 BC) and continued until the Iron / Israelite period (1200-732 BC). It is listed in several Egyptian sources: starting in the 19th century Egyptian (12th Dynasty) enemy-curse clay tablets; by Pharaoh Thutmose III (1486 BC), after the battle against the revolting Canaanite cities (one of the 119 cities listed there); in the Amarna letters, a 14th century BC Egyptian archive of clay tablets; in the Royal archives of Seti I, Ramses II and Ramses III.

Architecture

Khirbet Qana, widely studied as a candidate for the biblical Cana, was a densely populated, unwalled rural Jewish settlement from the Hellenistic to the Early Arab periods (323 BCE to 1324 CE). Its architecture primarily reflects ancient rural Galilean building traditions, structured around topography, domestic use, and religious worship.

Biblical & Historical References

Biblical References

Spiritual Lessons and Application

The Symbolism of Wine

Etymology

Khirbet Qana breaks down into two words representing its geographic and archaeological status.

Planning a Visit

Disclaimer: The information provided below may not be current. Travel details, entry requirements, and business operations are subject to frequent change due to holidays, seasonal fluctuations, maintenance, staffing levels, weather, and safety considerations. Always double-check with official sources before you go.

Places of Interest

An aerial map below shows the hill, indicating the major points of interest and its topography. The access road is seen circling the site from the south and west.

Virtual Visit

General View

For Further Reading

Internal Links:

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