Israel - Day 4 - Mount Tabor / Mount of Transfiguration

For our last morning in the Tiberias / Galilee area, Trek took some of the members of our group running along the sea of Galilee one last time.  He really enjoyed running each morning we were there.

We gathered up all our things, packed up our suitcases, ate breakfast, & got ready to leave this beautiful area of Israel.  Tonight's final destination was Jerusalem where we'd be staying for our last few days of the trip.  Canyon woke up feeling MUCH better today.  No more upset stomach, but he did have a slight cough so we continued to keep him in a mask.  Several of the other kids had started having a cough as well.  Whatever it was, it was slowly making it's way through our bus.

We hopped onto the bus & drove through many villages on our way to Mount Tabor or the Mount of Transfiguration.

Once we got about halfway up Mount Tabor, the roads got a lot smaller & we had to split up into 3 different vans to make it to the very top of the mountain.  The roads were small & wound around the mountain all the way to the top.  Looking over the Jezreel Valley was such a beautiful sight.  We could see Mount Carmel & Armegeddon & all the places we had visited so far on our trip.

At the very top, there is a Franciscan church built in 1924.  It's architect was Antonio Barluzzi (the same architect as the Church of the Beattitudes we had seen the day before.). This church was built upon the ruins of 2 other churches in the same spot, one dating back to the 4th century during the Byzantine period, & the other a 12th century Crusader church.

Inside there is a central chapel celebrating Christ.  The northern side of the church holds a chapel dedicated to Moses & the southern side has a chapel dedicated to Elijah.

Matthew 17:1-5

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, & John his brother, & bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, & was transfigured before them: & his face did shine as the sun, & his raiment was white as the light.  And behold, there appeared unto them Moses & Elias talking with him.  Then answered Peter, & said unto Jesus, Lord, is it good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here 3 tabernacles; one for thee, & one for Moses, & one for Elias.  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: & behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

Moses's Chapel

Elijah's Chapel

Above the church of Transfiguration is a balcony overlooking the entire Jezreel Valley.  You can see how beautiful & green it is.  It reminded me a lot of Germany.

There was an excavation site near the church where they are currently uncovering pieces of the 14th century crusader ruins underneath the site of the church.  They have discovered a beautiful original mosiac floor.  I just love these discoveries.

After spending some time on top of Mount Tabor, we took the small vans back down the mountain back to our bus.  All the kids on our trip loved Lorien.  They all fought to get to sit on her lap or hold her hand.  She is a kid magnet.  She was loving every minute of it.