Golan Heights was our “Home” during our tour around Tiberias. Not that I could comment much about the hotel facilities except for the food as patrons are mostly pilgrims from all around touring the neighboring sites.
Beatitudes
Mount of Beatitudes (Hebrew: הר האושר, Har HaOsher) is located in northern Israel. It was here where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
The church, Monte Delle Beatitudini, currently sits on the hill and is linked to the 1836 Historic monastery, Beatitude Monastery by a footpath. The church has an octagonal plan with the dome in the middle and surrounded by a portico. Eight beatitudes can be found drawn on the sides and on the floor.
These beatitudes are located in the garden outside the church building.
The eight Beatitudes in Matthew
Information
Peak Season: Note that there are tours bringing pilgrimages. Therefore, there may be huge crowds and entering the church building may require queuing. If visiting with older children, best to allocate a meeting point and time.
Attire: Dress respectfully and appropriately. This is a religious site. If you are in shoulders revealing attire, suggest bringing along a scarf or shawl.
Tabha
Our next stop, Tabgha.
Though the main road leading to the churches were quite isolated, alighting from the bus by the main road was much more a challenge. Most tour buses were parked along both sides of the road. Our bus had to pull up in front of the Church of the Loaves and Fish for us to alight.
Tabgha Church of the Loaves and Fish is also known as the Church of Multiplication. It was said that the limestone under the altar was found during excavation. It was venerated as the stone where the miraculous meal of feeding 5,000 people was performed – where Jesus looked up to heaven, blessed and broke bread.
The shores of the Sea of Galilee can be accessible through the Gates leading to the Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter.
Note: Miniature gravels from the Church to a brief distance to the shorelines of the Sea of Galilee. Larger boulders lined along the shorelines. Extra care and patience need to be taken when negotiating the boulders to get to the water.
Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter
Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter is here where Jesus confirms the primacy of Peter, pope Paul VI recited the Veni Creator, and prayed silently. After blessing the crowd, with a magnificent gesture, he opened wide his arms and overwhelmed with emotion he let himself fall, on the sacred Rock which he warmly embraced ~ ACTS, January-June 1964.
Town of Jesus, Capharnaum
You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:18-19
Capharnaum is the Town of Jesus located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Between c.140 and c.116BCE, Capharnaum was an ancient fishing village. Significant structures within Capharnaum includes St Peter’s church, monument of Saint Peter and Capernaum synagogue can be seen beyond its gates. The significance of Capharnaum links closely to Jesus’ words to Peter.
Today, a modern St. Peter’s Church, also called the Pilgrimage Church of St Peter in Capernaum, sits over an archaeological excavation of another layer of residential structure. Traditionally, the layer of structure was considered as “the first church in the world” and which could have been built over the house of the Peter, the Apostle.
Note: There is a flight of stairs to get into St Peter’s Church. I do not recall seeing any elevators or ramps.
These are the remains of the 4th-century synagogue. Cited in all four gospels, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum and healed a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit.
Cruise on ancient Jesus Boat
The ancient Jesus Boat cruise will sail around the Sea of Galilee and back to the jetty.
The Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. Theoretically, this water inlet is not really an open sea. It is called ‘Sea’ because of tradition.
This was part of the tour package. However, those who are terrified of sea sickness can choose to visit the Jesus Boat Museum instead.
Mount Bental Lookout
Mount Bental Lookout sits in the middle of Golan Heights, overviewing the Syrian border. Golan Heights, is a region spanning about 1,800 square kilometers, providing a panoramic view of the peaks of Mt. Hermon and the green pastoral Huleh valley. This area possesses strategic military importance. During winter, the higher elevations of Golan is covered in snow. During the dry season, this help sustain baseflow for rivers and springs.
My rationale of including Golan Heights in my travel blog under the heading of Israel was solely to explain the sequence of my travel within the Holy Land and my experiences. I have no intentions to comment on which country owns the Golan.
Vehicles are not allowed beyond the Parking Lot. There will be some slight elevated walk to get to the Lookout and cafe named “Coffee Annan”, named after the fomer UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Fret not, I guarantee that the walk was worth it. There were sculptures exhibited along two sides of the walkway towards the Lookout. In addition, the view from the Lookout is captivating.
Not to be alarmed if you find some UN soldiers at army bunker at the Lookout. UN presence was just as peace-keepers.
Golan Heights preparation
- Good pair of walking shoes.
- Bring Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Water (unless you prefer to queue to purchase your coffee)
- A small face towel
- Camera.