Synagogue Church

The Synagogue Church is a small Greek Catholic church in the heart of the old town, built on the site traditionally identified as the synagogue where Jesus preached at the start of his ministry. The church is modest in scale but sits at the center of one of the most significant episodes in the Gospels. The sunken floor level suggests a long sequence of buildings on this spot.

It is easy to miss amid the bustle of the old market nearby, but worth seeking out. The interior is simple and quiet, a contrast to the grander Franciscan and Greek Orthodox sites. A brief visit is enough; the church is small and attendance is light outside major feast days.

things to do sight
A story
The church is built significantly below street level — about 1.5 metres down — which archaeologists have taken as evidence that a much older structure stood here before it. The Crusaders identified this as the site of the synagogue where Luke records Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah and declaring "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" — a claim that caused the congregation to attempt to throw him off a cliff.