Everyone knows the majority of Jesus’ ministry was around the Sea of Galilee. It was there, he found disciples. It was there he walked on water. It was there he multiplied the loaves and the fishes. It was there he gave the Sermon on the Mount.

We know the stories and we have painted pictures in our heads about these places and what life must have been like in Jesus’ time. The book knowledge and imaginative experience we all create for ourselves is great. But those stories and places come alive so much more after visiting the very places Jesus lived and preached.

A church and gardens maintained by Franciscan Sisters is situated on the Mount of Beatitudes, which is believed to be where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. (Chronicle photo by Angela Kessler)

Our first stop in the Galilee region was at the Mount of the Beatitudes. Here, Franciscan Sisters care for a church and garden marking the most likely place the Sermon on the Mount was delivered. The beautifully simple octagonal church is located atop a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The peaceful atmosphere the sisters have created gives pilgrims a place of reflection with panoramic views of the sea and surrounding mountains.

Another way to get an overall view of the region is to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The small wooden boats give visitors a great view of the area from the water-covered valley. Growing up near the Great Lakes, the Sea of Galilee is much smaller than I imagined. The first Bible story that comes to life when riding on the water is when Jesus walked on water. As our boat sailed its course, I also looked up to the Mount of Beatitudes and could just imagine how a crowd gathered there would be visible enough to pique the curiosity of others as well.

In nearby Tabgha, a church is built over the rock believed to be the very one where the miracle of the loaves and fishes took place. The church’s altar is like a shelter for the rock and pilgrims come to pray here. Outside the church is a stone baptismal font brought to this location from Hebron. The church it belonged to was one of the first ever built by Queen Helena.

I haven’t talked much about the tremendous food we have eaten because I really want to focus on the religious sites important to Christians. However, this one time I will digress. During our lunch break in the Galilee region, we were able to eat St. Peter Fish, which is prepared and served as it would have been 2,000 years ago. The tilapia is caught daily from the Sea of Galilee and is fried and served intact, complete with head and tail. Wanting to participate in all of the experience, I had to try eating fish this way. I was surprised at how easy it was to remove the meat from the rest of the fish, and it was absolutely delicious.

The remainder of the day was spent visiting a few other sites near Galilee. Capernaum, which we read about quite a bit in the Bible, was never rebuilt. However remains of Peter’s home are encapsulated by a church. Remains of the nearby synagogue also remain.

The Jordan River is a popular stop for pilgrims. One part of the river has been developed to allow pastors to bring parishioners to be baptized or rededicated in the same river Jesus received his baptism.

The final stop of the day was in beautiful Cana. The site of Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine – is memorialized. Like many other churches in the region, it was built over the ruins or remains of more ancient church.

More photos from Israel are located in a photo gallery. http://www.catholicchronicle.org/index.php/category/18-israel-2012.html