This is Day 4, Part 5
After venturing out to Caesarea Philippi, we have returned to the area near the Sea of Galilee. In fact, since we returned to Tabgha, we are an easy walk from the restaurant we ate at for our lunch a few hours earlier. This also means we are nestled between the Mount of Beatitudes and the Sea of Galilee from which it rises.
This is the site where Christians have believed the multiplication of the loaves and fish occurred. There was a multiplication of the 5,000 and a multiplication of the 4,000. Since many people hear of the story of the multiplication and know there are four Gospels, they don't always notice that there are two separate occurrences.
Some people were taught that the miracle was not one of multiplication, but rather a miracle of sharing. This makes no sense. Yes, someone shared the original items, but God multiplied those gifts. God respects free will and does not take that away. If God would force the people to contribute, then free will would be gone. The Apostles knew the kind of bread that they had, how much they gave people, and would have seen how much people had to eat. If bread is being dispensed, it would be obvious if people put their own bread into the hands or baskets of the Apostles. If they ate of their own bread, they wouldn't need to receive any, and the Apostles would know a tiny bit would not be filling. Then, when they had their fill, they would put it back in their hiding place, since it was theirs the whole time. They wouldn't put their bread into the baskets at the end. When they gathered up the remaining pieces, what are the odds the leftovers would all be of the same kind of bread?
Just about every bit of reasoning suggests the tradition that this is a miracle of multiplication and not of sharing. This also helps foreshadow the Eucharist, where God makes himself present in many places in the appearance of bread. That bread is provided from the gifts we provide, and God multiplies that gift, making it infinitely more valuable.
As we approached the church, it had a simple appearance from the outside.
As we drew closer, we saw the baptistry just outside the church. This was common in the early Church. Baptism is the way we enter the Church. Before people were members of the Church, they would not be present inside for the Eucharistic parts of the liturgy for sure. So before they even physically enter, the site of their baptism would be outside of the building. Upon being baptized, they could then enter into the church building as members of the Church.
Many church buildings today put the baptismal fount near the entry, but inside the doors for security, maintainability, and so the sacrament can be performed regardless of the weather. Holy water is often present near the entryways to the worship space of churches as a reminder of our baptism.
Signs outside provide a bit of a context of the location. You see that this site is on the Northern Shore of the Sea of Galilee. It's barely more than a mile west of Capharnaum. The Mount of Beatitudes is also about a mile up the hill. The first sign shows the "Evangelical Triangle". Click photos to see larger versions. The second image shows the layout of churches in this area throughout the past.
We proceeded to enter the church using the entry on the right of the two. It had some markings above the doorway. The Greek letters showing the first and last letters of the alphabet remind me of a college professor who was from Canada and pronounced "omega" by placing emphasis on the first syllable rather than the second and saying, "OH-mah-ga" instead of "oh-MEH-ga". A Greek friend of mine sat next to me and asked what that character was. I told her it was "her" omega (hers as in her culture's letter).
Upon entering, there was an inner courtyard with a beautiful olive tree. I would take more photos later.
Upon entering the main worship space of the church, I saw a church with a high ceiling, rounded arches, and a mosaic floor. Some of that will be seen more closely in photos after I describe more.
One of the most commonly photographed spots in the church is the floor mosaic right in front of the altar. You can see that the best in the first photo below. It depicts two fish flanking a basket of bread. The second photo makes it clear we should be quiet.
The entire floor was a mosaic. This had to take a long time to create.
Looking back toward the front of the church, I saw the three windows that were visible when we approached the building.
The windows in older churches are made from thin plates of stone that are light enough to allow daylight to shine through. So we see random rock patterns in the windows.
Just before stepping out, I looked at a brochure. I didn't take one with me, but merely photographed it.
I stopped by the gift shop and bought some postcards and postage for postcards I anticipated getting. I wasn't sure how many to get, but I mostly bought for family members. But I added a little. Near the gift shop, the hall provided a few more views of the tree in the courtyard. I wished I would have gotten a bit closer and sat on the ground before taking the first photo, because I think the arch could have framed the tree nicely.
One view almost reminded me of the Garden of Eden. After being cast out, the Tree of Life was cut off from being accessible. Seeing a tree and something blocking the path just looks like the tree that wasn't originally forbidden (the way the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was), but would later be...until Jesus revealed himself as the Tree of Life and made himself present in the Eucharist. Again, it all comes back to the multiplication.
The outer courtyard had more than just the signs that talk about the prior churches on this site and the information about the area. It has a little about Faith, Prayer, Hope, Peace, etc.
After looking at all of those other signs, the next one in line was the "PRIVATE, No public access" sign. I don't think it's meant to be educational in the same way as the others.
After venturing out to Caesarea Philippi, we have returned to the area near the Sea of Galilee. In fact, since we returned to Tabgha, we are an easy walk from the restaurant we ate at for our lunch a few hours earlier. This also means we are nestled between the Mount of Beatitudes and the Sea of Galilee from which it rises.
This is the site where Christians have believed the multiplication of the loaves and fish occurred. There was a multiplication of the 5,000 and a multiplication of the 4,000. Since many people hear of the story of the multiplication and know there are four Gospels, they don't always notice that there are two separate occurrences.
Some people were taught that the miracle was not one of multiplication, but rather a miracle of sharing. This makes no sense. Yes, someone shared the original items, but God multiplied those gifts. God respects free will and does not take that away. If God would force the people to contribute, then free will would be gone. The Apostles knew the kind of bread that they had, how much they gave people, and would have seen how much people had to eat. If bread is being dispensed, it would be obvious if people put their own bread into the hands or baskets of the Apostles. If they ate of their own bread, they wouldn't need to receive any, and the Apostles would know a tiny bit would not be filling. Then, when they had their fill, they would put it back in their hiding place, since it was theirs the whole time. They wouldn't put their bread into the baskets at the end. When they gathered up the remaining pieces, what are the odds the leftovers would all be of the same kind of bread?
Just about every bit of reasoning suggests the tradition that this is a miracle of multiplication and not of sharing. This also helps foreshadow the Eucharist, where God makes himself present in many places in the appearance of bread. That bread is provided from the gifts we provide, and God multiplies that gift, making it infinitely more valuable.
As we approached the church, it had a simple appearance from the outside.
 |
| Church of the Multiplication |
As we drew closer, we saw the baptistry just outside the church. This was common in the early Church. Baptism is the way we enter the Church. Before people were members of the Church, they would not be present inside for the Eucharistic parts of the liturgy for sure. So before they even physically enter, the site of their baptism would be outside of the building. Upon being baptized, they could then enter into the church building as members of the Church.
Many church buildings today put the baptismal fount near the entry, but inside the doors for security, maintainability, and so the sacrament can be performed regardless of the weather. Holy water is often present near the entryways to the worship space of churches as a reminder of our baptism.
 |
| Baptismal Fount at the Church of the Multiplication |
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| Baptismal Fount Close-up at the Church of the Multiplication |
Signs outside provide a bit of a context of the location. You see that this site is on the Northern Shore of the Sea of Galilee. It's barely more than a mile west of Capharnaum. The Mount of Beatitudes is also about a mile up the hill. The first sign shows the "Evangelical Triangle". Click photos to see larger versions. The second image shows the layout of churches in this area throughout the past.
 |
| Information About This Area |
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| Information About Churches in this Area Over Time |
We proceeded to enter the church using the entry on the right of the two. It had some markings above the doorway. The Greek letters showing the first and last letters of the alphabet remind me of a college professor who was from Canada and pronounced "omega" by placing emphasis on the first syllable rather than the second and saying, "OH-mah-ga" instead of "oh-MEH-ga". A Greek friend of mine sat next to me and asked what that character was. I told her it was "her" omega (hers as in her culture's letter).
 |
| Entry to the Church of the Multiplication |
Upon entering, there was an inner courtyard with a beautiful olive tree. I would take more photos later.
 |
| Tree in the Inner Courtyard |
Upon entering the main worship space of the church, I saw a church with a high ceiling, rounded arches, and a mosaic floor. Some of that will be seen more closely in photos after I describe more.
One of the most commonly photographed spots in the church is the floor mosaic right in front of the altar. You can see that the best in the first photo below. It depicts two fish flanking a basket of bread. The second photo makes it clear we should be quiet.
 |
| Main Altar with Mosaic Floor in Front |
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| Altar, shhh |
The entire floor was a mosaic. This had to take a long time to create.
 |
| Floor Pattern |
 |
| Mosaic Imagery In the Floor |
 |
| Mosaic Imagery In the Floor |
Looking back toward the front of the church, I saw the three windows that were visible when we approached the building.
The windows in older churches are made from thin plates of stone that are light enough to allow daylight to shine through. So we see random rock patterns in the windows.
Just before stepping out, I looked at a brochure. I didn't take one with me, but merely photographed it.
I stopped by the gift shop and bought some postcards and postage for postcards I anticipated getting. I wasn't sure how many to get, but I mostly bought for family members. But I added a little. Near the gift shop, the hall provided a few more views of the tree in the courtyard. I wished I would have gotten a bit closer and sat on the ground before taking the first photo, because I think the arch could have framed the tree nicely.
 |
| Base of the Tree Through the Arch |
One view almost reminded me of the Garden of Eden. After being cast out, the Tree of Life was cut off from being accessible. Seeing a tree and something blocking the path just looks like the tree that wasn't originally forbidden (the way the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was), but would later be...until Jesus revealed himself as the Tree of Life and made himself present in the Eucharist. Again, it all comes back to the multiplication.
 |
| The Tree through a Metal Grid in a Window |
The outer courtyard had more than just the signs that talk about the prior churches on this site and the information about the area. It has a little about Faith, Prayer, Hope, Peace, etc.
After looking at all of those other signs, the next one in line was the "PRIVATE, No public access" sign. I don't think it's meant to be educational in the same way as the others.
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