Palace of Caiaphas? St. Peter in Gallicantu

The church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu is located on the eastern slope of the western hill of ancient Jerusalem—south of the Old City wall, on present day Mount Zion.

According to a sixth or seventh century tradition this is the site of the Palace of Caiaphas before whom Jesus was questioned (mentioned 9 times in the New Testament; Matt 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:54). According to the Gospel accounts, Peter, in the courtyard denied any association with Jesus after which the "rooster crowed" (= Latin: galli-–cantu; Matt 26:69–76; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:55–65; John 18:25–27).

The church was completed in 1931 and the Assumptions Fathers serve there. The church is built on three levels, the bottom of which contains a series of rock cut caverns that are said to date to the time of Jesus.

Excavations to the north of the church have revealed a variety of rock cut remains along with a flight of steps that leads up and down the hill—it is said to date to the time of Jesus (= Second Temple Period).