St. Peter in Gallicantu

As Marty and I were making our way to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem,  I spotted the sign for St. Peter in Gallicantu along the way, and was curious as to what it could be.  Since it was Sunday, the church was closed, but we decided that we would head out to see it early on Monday, prior to departing from Jerusalem.

The church is actually located on Mt. Zion, across from the Dormition Monastery, outside the Old City Walls of Jerusalem.

Are you curious about the name, St. Peter-in-Gallicantu?

According to tradition, this church sits on what was once the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas,  where Jesus was brought to jail right after his arrest.

The name Gallilcantu translates "cocks crow" and the church is named after the event where Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, before the cock crowed twice. 

Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

There certainly is no denying the symbolism related to the name of this church: The cupola is adorned with a gold rooster

Upon entering the grounds, the direction of the entrance is portrayed by a rooster

and there is a statue in the plaza that depicts the scene involving Peter.

The inscription reads a part from Luke 22: 57: "But he denied him, saying: Woman, I know him not".

The lower crypt is built into the rock where the palace would have stood, and beneath it are caves, one of which is believed to have been the prison where Jesus was held after his arrest.   We were able to walk down into this area to view the site personally, but there was a tour in front of us, and another behind us, so time was limited.

The lower church, surrounded on three sides by the original rock, features icons representing the denial by Peter.

Here you see Jesus arrested, the denying Peter and the cock in the background.

Peter weeping after he realizes what he has done

And, finally, this icon represents Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him.  John 21:17.

As simple as the lower crypt was, the upper church was quite the opposite, covered with mosaics from top to bottom.

The cupola ceiling featured an awesome stained glass cross 

I zoomed in on the middle circle since it doesn't photograph well from a distance.

The sanctuary features the arrest of Jesus at the palace.

 Here is a closer shot at the detail

and take note of the top of this mosaic

You see the cross, held up by angels, with a haloed figure, holding his head in sadness.

 A mosaic on a side altar shows Jesus being presented to Caiaphas.

Even the exterior of the building featured mosaics that represented that fateful day.

I found it quite interesting that this church separated the two events, with Peter's denial being recognized in the crypt church, and the presentation of Jesus at Caiaphas' Palace in the main church.

Separate, but the same.  Quite telling, for sure. 

Now, there is an interesting aspect about this visit that cannot be ignored.

Would you believe, that as we were walking past this church on Sunday,  a rooster was crowing?  

I kid you not.

That was what caught my attention to begin with.  I heard the sound, turned my head, and spotted the church. At the time, I had no idea what Peter in Galliantu meant.  I had presumed that it meant Peter in Chains, pertaining to his arrest. 

So, no one was more surprised that I to find out the real meaning behind the word.

And then, as we approached the church on Monday, we heard the cock's crow, loud and clear, as we walked down the pathway.  We actually thought it was pretty funny that, somewhere nearby, lives a rooster that brings to life the whole event that happened over 2000 years ago. 

Now, some may scoff at this, or call it coincidence, but I can assure you that at no other time during our visit to Jerusalem did we encounter a rooster.  It certainly makes the entire experience that much more interesting, don't you think?