Custody of Holy Land Concludes Year of Eucharist - In Capernaum, Site of a Key Discourse

Zenit News Agency ^ | October 21, 2005

[NYer]

JERUSALEM, OCT. 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Capernaum, the historical place where Christ made a promise to institute the Eucharist, will host a celebration to conclude the Year of the Eucharist.

"I Am the Bread of Life" is the name of the event organized by the Custody of the Holy Land for Oct. 29.

In Capernaum "are the impressive remains of the synagogue where Jesus gave the Eucharistic discourse which attracted the interest and devotion of the friars who faced many sacrifices in order to save the synagogue from abandonment and destruction," said the custos of the Holy Land, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, commenting on the celebration to SIR news agency of the Italian episcopate.

The custos added that he hopes the celebration may "revive the certainty in all those who participate that here, once and for ever, Jesus said to all: 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.'"

Father Pizzaballa will preside over the celebration of the word -- in different languages -- that will begin in the synagogue at 4 p.m.

The blessing and distribution of bread will take place at the lake. The afternoon will end with a celebration.

[NYer]

The ruins of ancient Capharnaum cover approximately an area of 6 hectares (60,000 square m). The village stretched for about 300 m from E to W along the lake shore, the easternmost limits being in the area where the Greek-Orthodox church is built, and for some 200 m from S to N, i.e. from the lake shore to the hills.

[NYer]

To learn more about Capharnaum, the Town of Jesus, click on the following link.