Tabgha in Kineret, Northern District, Israel — West Asia (the Levant in the Middle East)
Church of Heptapegon
The Seven Springs
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
1. Church of Heptapegon Marker
The Judeo-Christians of Capharnaum venerated a large rock upon which Jesus is said to have laid the bread and fish before he fed the five thousand (Mk 6:30-44)
ca. 350 AD
Used as an altar, the rock was the very center of the first church at this site, built be a Jewish nobleman from Tiberias. Oriental communities venerated him as Saint Josipos. The church was built in close alignment with the ancient Via Maris.
ca. 480 AD
A Byzantine church with an unusual transept was erected. Its mosaic floor is of great artistic value. The building and its mosaics reveal Egyptian influence. The historic rock, reduced in size, was moved and placed beneath the altar.
614 AD
During the Persian invasion the Heptapegon Church was destroyed and faded into oblivion. After the Muslim conquest (636 AD) Christian activity ceased around the lake for centuries.
1932 The ancient church ruins, hidden for 1300 years, were excavated by Father Mader and his team. The mosaics were found, surprisingly, to be, to a large extent, intact.
1980/82 The ancient Byzantine basilica was reconstructed on its original foundations by the architects Goergen and Baumann. (Koln, Deutscher Verein vom Heiligen Land)
The
this page online
Fr. Bargil Pixner
Erected by Custodia Terrae Sanctae, Ordo Fratrum Minorum, Franciscan Friars.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.
Location. 32° 52.412′ N, 35° 32.964′ E. Marker is in Tabgha, Northern District, in Kineret. Marker can be reached from Route 87, 0.8 kilometers east of Route 90. The marker is off the church's courtyard, on the wall of the open breezeway. Touch for map. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Blessing of Bronze Doors in memory of John Paul II's pilgrimage to Tabgha (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Capharnaum (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Sea of Galilee (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); Excavations in Capharnaum (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); a different marker also named Capharnaum (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); The Memorial Church of St. Peter (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); a different marker also named Capharnaum (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); The House of Peter (approx. 2.5 kilometers away).
More about this
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
2. Church of Heptapegon Marker
- visible in the shade behind the middle arch
- visible in the shade behind the middle arch
Also see . . .
1. The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 31, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Tabgha. See The Holy Land website entry (Submitted on January 31, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Via Maris. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 2, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. "Feeding the 5,000"; Mount of the Beatitudes.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
3. The Church of Heptapegon
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
4. Church of Heptapegon - the altar over the rock where lay the bread and fishes
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
5. Another of the church's shaded, exterior hallways
- note the art work on the door at left: illustrations of Feeding the 5000 and the Sermon on the Mount.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
6. Church of the Beatitudes (1938)
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
7. Interior marker commemorating the 1964 visit of Pope Paul VI to the Church of the Beatitudes
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 24, 2011
8. The Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias), viewed from Tabgha near the Church of Heptapegon
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, March 7, 2013
9. Church of Heptapegon Marker
A close-up view of the church floor plan, that is displayed on the historical marker.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, March 7, 2013
10. Church of Heptapegon
A more distant view of the altar over the rock where lay the bread and fishes, before Jesus fed the Five Thousand.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, March 8, 2013
11. Church of Heptapegon
A panoramic view of the interior of the Church of Heptapegon.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, March 8, 2013
12. Church of Heptapegon
View of the mosaic floor, located in the side of the church to the left of the altar.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,138 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on July 3, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on July 2, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on July 3, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 7, 8. submitted on July 4, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on April 15, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
