Israel Day 3/8: Mt of Beatitudes

While no one knows the exact mountainside Jesus gave His "Sermon on the Mount" from, pilgrims have visited this site near the shores of the Sea of Galilee since the 4th century. The sloping hill, overlooking the Plain of Gennesaret, makes a natural amphitheater that can seat around 7000 people.

The white isn't snow. It's coverings to protect the banana

trees from flocks of wild parrots

What makes this sermon even more amazing is the fact that Jesus defied the laws of physics while giving it. Matthew 5:1 clearly says that Jesus went up the mountainside and Matthew 8:1 says He came down when done. Sound doesn't travel down hillsides into valleys very well. But that isn't a problem for the creator of the laws of physics. 

This site now consists of a church, monastery, hostel and lovely gardens overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

The church was built in 1939 by the Franciscan Sisters with support from Italian dictator, Mussolini. 

The chapel is built in an octagonal shape to represent the eight Beatitudes and they are written in Latin on stain glass windows at the top of the dome.

The mosaic floor was added in 1984 by an Italian artist.

 After leaving the site, we made our way north to our next stop...