June 4, 2025 – Jerusalem Post

Water into wine: Archaeologist claim to pinpoint location associated with Jesus’s first miracle

The Bible gives limited details about Jesus’ first miracle, which is said to have taken place at Cana. The Gospel of John states that Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding in the village:

“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons,” the gospel states. “Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ so they filled them to the brim.”

The passage continues, “Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.“

Recent excavations at Khirbet Qana, an ancient Jewish village, have unearthed evidence potentially linking the site to the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine. A large Christian veneration cave complex, possibly a Byzantine synagogue or church, was discovered, along with a network of tunnels used for ancient Christian worship. These tunnels feature crosses, the Greek phrase “Lord Jesus,” and an altar, suggesting a pilgrimage site associated with the miracle.

Khirbet Qana is located 12 kilometers northwest of Nazareth. A collection of evidence (see below) suggests that this could be the real Cana, supported by the presence of early Christian artifacts. Since 1998, a team of archaeologists led initially by Professor Douglas Edwards and currently by Dr. Tom McCollough had been conducting excavations in the Khirbet Qana area.

Archaeological evidence from Khirbet Qana indicates that it was a well-connected Jewish village during the lifetime of Jesus. The strongest finding was the discovery of an extensive network of Christian worship sites in a hidden underground cave system beneath the village, dating to the 3rd century CE, found by Dr. McCollough.

Here’s a summary of the findings:

A Large Christian Veneration Cave Complex was discovered. This complex, likely used from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 12th-century Crusader period, was found on the south-east side of the hill. Inside the complex, a cave with pilgrim graffiti and crosses was discovered, along with reused sarcophagus lids and stone containers that might have been used in pilgrim rituals related to the water-to-wine miracle.

A network of tunnels, potentially used for Christian worship, was also found, featuring crosses, the phrase “Kyrie Iesou” (Lord Jesus), an altar, and the remains of a stone vessel.

The excavations also revealed that Khirbet Qana was a thriving Jewish village between 323 B.C. and 324 A.D., which supports the biblical location of Cana of Galilee. The discovery of an altar and a shelf with a stone vessel, possibly consistent with the six stone jars mentioned in the Gospel story, further strengthens the link to the water-to-wine miracle.

A fragment of a cooking pot with three letters in Aramaic, the language of Galilee during Jesus’ time, was also found.

>> Read the full article on J Post: https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-855296

Additional References:

Fox News – Archaeologist uncovers ‘compelling evidence’ of true location where Jesus turned water into wine. By Andrea Margolis Fox News, June 3, 2025: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/historian-uncovers-compelling-evidence-true-location-where-jesus-turned-water-wine

Irish Star – ‘Incredible’ discovery as tunnels where Jesus performed first miracle ‘found’
Archaeologists believe they have discovered the location where, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ performed his first miracle: https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/incredible-discovery-tunnels-jesus-performed-35291467