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Friday, May 9, 2008

Day 4 (Part 2): Mount of Beatitude, Galilee

The walk on the Mount of Beatitude was breezy, relaxing, enjoyable and breathtaking. Its very dry at this time of the year. Quite unusual during spring time. The weeds are brown and yellow.


We strolled at the tail end of the group, along with Andy, our tour guide from Singapore... while the rest of the group enjoying a leisurely walk on the mount. As we go along, Sudqi, our local tour guide, will do some explanation. But since we were at the tail of the group, we missed most of the information given. He did love to talk. Which he admitted at the beginning of his introduction of the tour. I just didn't realise how much he LOVED to talk. Honestly, he is a very nice and sweet guy.


The wild flowers along the path. I don't know the name


This flower is called "Blood of Jesus"

This original path dates back to Roman times.... Wow! Antique!


Sudqi trying to make a crown of thorns. This is the original plant used to make the crown of thorns which was placed on the head of Jesus by the Roman soldiers.



This is the plant which can make the crown of thorns. The fruit is edible but doesn't taste good.


View on the Mount of Beatitude



Another view on the Mount of Beatitude


After the walk on the Mount of Beatitude, we walked to the Church of The Primacy of Peter (clipped from here)

The Church of the Primacy of Peter is a modest Franciscan chapel that incorporates part of a 4th-century church. It is located at Tabgha on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee and commemorates Jesus' reinstatement of Peter after a fish breakfast on the shore.

In the Bible

In John 21, Jesus appears to his disciples for the third time after his resurrection on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The night before, Peter and several other disciples had sailed out on the lake to fish, but caught nothing. In the morning, a man appeared on the shore and called out to them to throw their net on the right side of the boat. Doing so, they caught so many fish they couldn't drag the net back into the boat.

At this point Peter recognizes Jesus, and promptly jumps out of the boat to wade to shore to meet him. The other disciples follow in the boat, dragging the net behind them. When they land, Jesus has prepared a charcoal fire for the fish and provided bread, and they have breakfast together (John 21:9). This is believed to have taken place on the mensa Christi, a large rock incorporated in the chapel.

After breakfast, Jesus reinstated Peter (after his three-time denial of Jesus at the crucifixion) with the words "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-19). This is the event for which the modern church is named, which is interpreted by the Catholic Church to give the Pope (as the successor of Peter) authority over the worldwide Church.


In the Church of the Primacy of Peter


Left photo: The background is a photo of 2 men fishing on a boat. Reminds me of the disciple of Jesus, Peter, a fisherman.
Right photo: Just beside the beachside, there is a waterfall which is suppose to be a hotspring and a cave. I was the only one walking towards the waterfall while the rest of the group staring :-). I enjoyed the walk towards the waterfall. Full of small pebbles. The water was so lovely and refreshing. As soon as I reached the waterfall, we had to leave :-( *sigh*. But I was so happy to be able to dip my feet in and some on my face. Cool!


After this we will be taking a ride on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a lake.

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6 comments:

Kellan said...

So interesting about the crown of thorns - makes me sad just thinking about it. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures! Have a good time - see you soon - Kellan

Rosemary said...

Wow! You're on a pilgrimage? I'm so jealous. I've never been to the Holy Land. Beautiful pictures. thanks for sharing.

Angela said...

Amazing to think of all the things you are seeing
it probably makes you think about things in a little different light

Anonymous said...

Thanks for dropping by my blog. I had an ex-colleague who once went to Israel as well and like you she too came back with lots of things to share. :)

Agnes said...

Isreal is a nice place to visit!

JK said...

Never knew that there were so many beautiful things to see there. A trip worth going, eh? Happy mother's day to you, Chris.