At the top of a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee is a church that commemorates the Sermon on the Mountain that Jesus delivered.

This sermon begins with eight verses beginning with the term "blessed" in the Latin "Biati". In Hebrew it has been translated as “The Mountain of Happiness” as Happy and Blessed Sounds. It is the social doctrine of Jesus and some people compare it with the Ten Commandments of Judaism. Jesus addresses the poor, on the margins of society and delivers his sermon (Mathew 5:1-12):

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in the spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed the meek for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hungry and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see god. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of god. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you”.

The main emphasis of the sermon is that on the Day of Judgment a person will judge differently from the Ten Commandments also on his thoughts and intentions and not only on his actions.

Inside the church

After parking you will first notice a building that serves as a paid public toilet, next to it a souvenir shop and then you will reach a charming and pastoral garden where there are quotes from the New Testament in it. Follow the path until the black church unfolds Infront of you with the beauty of the Sea of ​​Galilee. You will also note the monastery of the Franciscan nuns and the dormitory of the pilgrims who visit this site.

This church was designed by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi and as in other churches he designed it is meant to convey the message of the story. There is evidence from the nearby Byzantine church commemorating this history as well. As the sermon includes 8 verses, the church is thought of as an octagon with 8 angles. The church is made from local basalt stone that characterizes the region and limestone. Its walls have large and broad panoramic windows to allow us to see the space where Jesus acted and required the sermon.

On the floor of the church you can see a mosaic with eight panels listing the seven virtues of man according to Greek wisdom according to which one should live "hope, faith, kindness, wisdom, moderation of justice and courage. In the last panel is written in Latin "Praised be Christ" Verses of the Sermon With these symbolizing virtues are the standards which the Christian believer must adhere.

Basic Information

church name :The Church of Beatitudes

Address : between Tabgha and Capernaum

Map

Christianity order: Roman Catholic (Franciscan) order

Date of construction 1983.

Arrival options

Logistic information:

Admission is free, but you will need to pay for parking.

Hours of operation: 08:00-12:00, 14:30-17:00.

Accessibility

The site is accessible for wheelchairs, you will need support with a staircase. the toilets are not.

Telephone No: 972-4-679078.

Public toilets available with a 5 Nis charge at the entrance. The toilet is not wheelchair-friendly.

Nearby Activities

This church is close by Tabgha church and Capernaum churches, which are a must visit for any Christian visitor.

My experience

At the entrance of the church, you can buy postcards with the verses of the sermon in different languages. Moreover, in the window of the shop you can see the dresses of the two papyrus who visited here first in 1964, Paul IV and the second in 2000, John Paul II. You can book a head a mass ceremony in the garden surrounding the church.