By Barnabas AugustineThe Adamawa pilgrims have visited Cana of Galilee, Mount Precipice, and the House of Mary, concluding their visits to holy sites in Israel.
The pilgrims, whose itinerary spanned from morning until evening, successfully completed all the scheduled sites.
The visit to Cana of Galilee, the location of the Wedding at Cana near Nazareth where Jesus performed his first miracle, allowed the pilgrims to see the site and the remnants of some of the jars filled with water before Jesus turned it into wine, as excavated by archaeologists.
Tradition holds that the church in Cana is built over the former house of Simon the Canaanite, one of the twelve apostles. Inside the church are two of the stone vessels used at the first miracle and part of Simon the Canaanite’s holy relics.
Another site visited by the pilgrims was Mount Precipice, also known as the Mount of Precipitation or Mount Kedumim, a prominent hill just outside Nazareth. It is believed to be the site where an angry mob tried to push Jesus off a cliff after he proclaimed himself to be the Messiah.
According to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4, verses 16–30, Jesus returned to Nazareth and preached in the synagogue, declaring that he was the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah. The people of Nazareth were initially amazed by his words, but when Jesus suggested he was the Messiah, they became angry and tried to push him off the cliff on Mount Precipice. However, Jesus escaped and left the city.
The pilgrims were taken to the location on Mount Precipice where Jesus passed, unseen by the crowd.
The final site visited was the Church of the Annunciation, sometimes also referred to as the Basilica of the Annunciation, a Catholic church in Nazareth. It is the site of the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus.
Speaking after visiting the holy sites in Nazareth, Mr Joshua Dauda Atiku, Secretary of the Adamawa Pilgrims’ delegation to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan for the 2025 pilgrimage, said that his experience was great, spiritually uplifting, and an eye-opener.
He said that all the sites they visited had changed his perception of Israel, adding that each visit taught him about the people, the land, and spiritual growth. He thanked Governor Fintiri for supporting the pilgrims.
Sule Tekile said he had gained additional knowledge of Christianity and thanked Governor Fintiri for sponsoring him to the Holy Land.
Kefas William and Rev Richard Kodeke said they had prayed expectantly, believing that their prayers had been answered, and that they were spiritually uplifted.
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