Blessed

We had a wonderful day fully experiencing the ministry of Jesus along the shores of the Sea of Galilee so we feel truly blessed.  Many of the places we will see on this trip are churches built over places that Jesus was during his life, but the Sea of Galilee is unchanged. from his time.  All the places we've seen were so beautiful, you could see why he chose to live here along the shores of this lake.

Shape of the boat

Jesus Boat

Our group viewing the boat

We began the day by visiting the Jesus Boat which is a boat they found buried in the mud along the lake which has been carefully preserved.  It gave us a good impression of the boat the apostles would have used when fishing along these shores.

Then we boarded a boat for a 45 minute cruise on the peaceful lake while our guide, George, pointed out the history of the area and Father read Gospel passages.  I wish I had a tape of what they said.  It was very calm and peaceful.

Shoreline

Peaceful Waters

Our Boat

Surprised by this in Israel

We visited the sites in a different order than I posted earlier in the day.  After our boat ride we went to the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes.  The church is simple, but has beautiful icons and preserves mosaics from the original church built on this site.

Courtyard

These animals are Egyptian 

JPII Stole

Our next stop was at the Mount of the Beatitudes which is the most beautiful site we've seen in Israel so far.  The landscape is just beautiful set right along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee.  First we visited the small church dedicated to the Beatitudes.

Paul VI Stole

The Church with the Beatitudes Above

Our Outdoor Altar

 Father spoke about us being on the mountain at Mt. Tabor yesterday which would have been an arduous climb for the apostles and then being here on this peaceful slope.  Living the beatitudes is not always easy, but we can have a mountain top experience in our heart.

Water Fountain

Beautiful View

 Our next stop was for lunch featuring St. Peter fish (tilapia) which was served either as a whole fish with the head and all or filet style.  Both Ida and I opted for the filet.  Tilapia is one of five species of fish that live in the Sea of Galilee and was likely a fish caught by the apostles.

Father was brave and got the whole fish

Filet Style for the Weak

Filled with Tilapia and Many Blessings Today

Church of the Primacy of Peter

Our next stop was at the Church of the Primacy of Peter.  This was another favorite spot because you could just feel that Jesus spent a lot of time here with the apostles.  George told us that the spring that enters the Sea 100 yards off shore attracted fish, so this is where they would have come.  Inside the church is the Mensa Christi where he cooked breakfast for them.

The Shoreline

Mensa Christi

Ida collects water

The original stairs outside the church

The shore line with the heart shaped stones

The next stop was at Capernaum where Jesus performed more than 20 miracles.  One of the first things you see is this statue by a Canadian sculptor of Jesus as a homeless man.  His head is under a blanket, but his feet are exposed and show the crucifixion wounds. The sculpture intended it invoke Matthew's gospel where Jesus says""as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me".  More than 100 copies of this sculpture exist now worldwide.

Homeless Jesus

Greek Orthodox Church of the Apostles

This is the farthest north we we go in Israel.  Just beyond this Greek Orthodox Church are the Golan Heights leading to Syria. We did not get to visit this church but its filled with icons.

As I described in the earlier post, Capernaum was a main trading village.  George described how they would bring salt from thee Mediterranean to preserve the fish caught here.  So, this is where Peter had his house.

Two colors of stone

The synagogue ruins here are amazing.  The first picture shows the original synagogue built with the native black stone which would have been the building in which Jesus taught.  Then, a later building built of white stop was built on top.

Benches where Jews would have sat.

Ruins of houses with a mill

 A modern church is built over the ruins of Peter's House.  There was a central room with smaller rooms built around it in an octagonal shape.

Central Room

Glass Floor in Church

Church Altar

Outside the church, we we surprised to find that the statue of St. Peter was designed by a local artist from Philadelphia, Charles Madden and that I know some of the donors for the statue.  It was dedicated by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Stone Upon Which they Read from the Torah

We made an unscheduled stop at Magdala where they have recently uncovered an ancient 1st century synagogue that's being restored and they build a beautiful church which we got to see. The Duc in Altum Church was built in 2014 and its dedicated to Mary Magdalene who was from this town.

Old Canal to Bring Water

Olives

Icon of Judas Ischariot

Church Exterior

Holy Water Font

Boat Shaped Altar

Jesus Walking on Water

In the lower level is this painting entitled, Encounter, which Ida really liked.  It captures the hemororrhaging women touching Jesus to be healed as described in Mark's gospel. 



After dinner we returned to the Basilica of the Annunciation to participate in the candlelight procession they have each week.  It was an opportunity for us to experience the universal church as we encountered pilgrims from all over the world.  We learned to sing in Arabic.

Four members of our group were able to participate in the readings or recitation of the Rosary thanks to Father King.

Procession

Statue

Ida

Paying Homage to Mary

This was a very long day, so you will have to forgive how quickly this was put together.  When I get a chance, I will edit some video clips of the procession.