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The Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee near Tabgha and Capernaum, is an important Christian site in Israel.
Religious Significance
According to Christian tradition, the Mount of Beatitudes was the location for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The site has been a place of pilgrimage since the 4th century, and a Byzantine church stood there from the 4th through 7th centuries.
Church of the Beatitudes
Today, the Church of the Beatitudes sits atop the hill in a beautiful setting surrounded by a garden. It was built between 1936 and 1938 by the Italian Mission Society and funded by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini (1883-1945). The architect was Antonio Barluzzi (1884-1960).
The church has a Neo-Byzantine design and is on an octagonal plan representing the eight Beatitudes. The altar is made of alabaster and onyx. Popes Paul VI (1897-1978) and John Paul II (1920-2005) both celebrated Mass there on their visits to the Holy Land in 1964 and 2000, respectively.
A colonnaded porch surrounds the church, and there’s a mosaic floor in the area in front. The Church of the Beatitudes is maintained by the National Association for Assistance to Italian Missionaries (Associazione Nazionale per Soccorrere i Missionari Italiani), or ANSMI.
Guesthouses
The guesthouses are run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, better known as the Sisters of Egypt. They’re in charge of hospitality and taking care of the church. The original guesthouse is opposite the church, and the new guesthouse is slightly uphill from the gift shop near the parking lot. Pilgrims can stay in the guesthouses and there’s a restaurant offering food and snacks.
Views from the Mount of Beatitudes
Finally, there’s a nice view of the Sea of Galilee from the parking lot. It’s possible to spot some of the other pilgrimage sites down near the shore.
