Church of the Beatitudes
This octagonal church was built to commemorate the eight Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This is the traditional location where Jesus taught this sermon overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
The suggestion of this hill for the location of the sermon is a good one. Once known as Mt. Eremos, this hill is located between Capernaum and Tabgha and is just above the “Cove of the Sower.” This spacious hillside provides much room for crowds to gather, as evidenced by preparation for 100,000 Catholics who observed mass nearby with the Pope’s in March 2000.
Inside the church the sisters encourage you to sing, to enjoy the beautiful acoustics and worship God.
Church of the Primacy of St. Peter
Tabgha is an area situated on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. It is the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:30-46) and the fourth resurrection appearance of Jesus where He restores Peter in John 21. This would be the shoreline where the miraculous catch took place after Jesus’ resurrection, followed by breakfast around a campfire.
This is in the same vicinity where tradition says Jesus baptized His disciples. Until 1948, it was the site of an Arab village.
Capernaum
Capernaum (“Nahum’s village”) was a fishing village inhabited from mid 2nd century BC to 11th century AD. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee and had a population of about 1,500. Recent excavations revealed that there were two synagogues in the village: the more recent was made of limestone and was built on top of the older, which was made of local black basalt. Only the foundation walls, some columns, and the cobblestone floor remain of the earlier structure. This older structure was most likely the one in which Jesus had taught.
A church near Capernaum is said to be the home of Peter. When Jesus left Nazareth he settled in Capernaum where he chose his first four disciples; James, John, Peter and Andrew.
The town is cited in the Gospel of Luke where it was reported to have been the home of the apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John, as well as the tax collector Matthew. In Matthew 4:13 the town was reported to have been the home of Jesus. According to Luke 4:31-44, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum on Sabbath. Jesus then healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. According to Luke 7:1-10, it is also the place where a Roman Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant.
Josephus referred to Capernaum as a fertile spring. He stayed the night there after spraining his ankle. During the first Jewish revolt of 66-70 Capernaum was spared as it was never occupied by the Romans.
Khorazim
Chorazin (or Khorazim) is one of the three Galilean cities cursed by Jesus; the other two being Bethsaida and Capernaum. Most of Jesus teachings and miracles occurred there. According to Matthew 11:10-24, their people did not accept his teachings and repent in spite of the miracles Jesus performed there.
The remains of an elaborate synagogue built in the 3rd or 4th century are a striking feature of the ruins of Chorazin. Found in the ruins of the synagogue was the Seat of Moses, from which the Torah would have been read.
Jesus Boat
In 1986 the hull of a fishing boat old enough to have been on the water in the time of Jesus and his disciples was discovered. The remains were 27 feet long, 7.5 feet wide and 4.3 feet high. This size would have enabled it to carry up to 15 people.
Although there is no evidence that this boat was used by Jesus or his disciples, boats such as this are mentioned more than 50 times in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. It is interesting that the boat is dated to have been used between 120 BC and 40 AD. Certainly Jesus had been in fishing boats like this one, if not this one.
Boat ride across Galilee
We will be taking a sunset boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. This experience will allow each person to contemplate that 2,000 years ago Jesus also spent time with his disciples in a boat on this same lake, with relatively the same views.
Magdala
Magdala is located on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. It was a prosperous fishing village during Jesus’ day. As a major port and a centre of trade and commerce, it even exported salted fish to markets as far away as Europe. Magdala is also one of the newest archaeological sites in the region. Several important artifacts have been found there dating from the time of Jesus, and also a large Byzantine monastery.
Its fame rested on one notable person, Mary Magdalene. This woman was one of the few persons present at Christ’s crucifixion and also the first recorded witness of his Resurrection.
Whether she lived in Magdala or was simply born there is unknown, but she was apparently a wealthy woman. Mary was a close follower of Jesus. Luke says she had been cured of “seven demons” and also had accompanied Jesus, supporting his ministry from her own resources (Luke 8:2-3).
She was also one of the women who took spices for anointing to the tomb, when they found the tomb empty! Two men in dazzling clothes gave them the news that Jesus had risen. (Luke 24:1-12) Jesus appeared to Mary, but she confused him with the gardener. But she finally recognized him when he spoke her name. Then she announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”. (John 20:1-18)
This city that gave its name to Mary Magdalene was turned into a fortified base for rebels during the First Jewish Revolt in AD 66-70.
In 1986 the hull of the so-called Jesus Boat, was found in the lakebed near the ancient port of Magdala.
Related Biblical References:
- Matt 5:3-11 – “Blessed” statements from Jesus (also see Matt 5-7)
- Luke 6:20-49 – Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount
- Mark 6:30-46 – Miraculous feeding
- John 21:1-25 – Jesus’ restoration of Peter
- Luke 4:21-44; Matt 8:5-13; 9:1; 9:9-12; 11:20-22 – Many stories of Jesus in Capernaum
- Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 10:13-14 – Jesus condemns Chorazin
- Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus stills the storm
- Matthew 13:1-9 – Jesus tells parables from a boat
- Luke 5:1-11 – The miraculous catch of fish
- Matthew 15:39 – Jesus visits Magdala by boat
- Luke 8:2 – Mary cured of seven demons
- Luke 8:3 – Mary supports Jesus’ ministry
- Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18 – Mary goes to Jesus’ tomb
- John 20:18 – Mary announces the Resurrection to the disciples
