The Mount of Beatitudes (also known as Mount Eremos) is a large hill in northern Israel (also known as the Holy Land). It is said to be the place where Jesus gave his most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount. It is also believed that Jesus chose his twelve disciples at this site.

The Mount of Beatitudes lies on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee, between the settlements of Capernaum and Gennesaret, approximately 100 miles from Jerusalem. 

The site (which has been celebrated as the place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount for more than 1600 years) is named after a section of the Sermon, as recounted in the Gospel of St Matthew (and partially in the Gospel of St Luke and the Dead Sea Scrolls). In this section, known as the Beatitudes, Christ describes the merits of those who inhabit the Kingdom of Heaven and the ways in which each group is, or shall be blessed. No specific people are mentioned; rather the Beatitudes indicate the specific characteristics required to gain entry to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

The characteristics possessed by each group who shall enter Heaven are not characteristics which most would usually consider as blessed. Theologians have suggested that the meaning of this is that those who are not usually considered blessed on Earth will be so in the Kingdom of Heaven. Overall, there are considered to be eight Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes (according to the Gospel of St Matthew) read as follows:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Today a Byzantine church stands upon the Mount of Beatitudes. The church was erected in 1938 by the Catholic Franciscan Sisters and was funded in part by the infamous Italian ruler Mussolini. The chapel was designed by a noted architect of the time, Antonio Barluzzi.

The church is octagonal in design. Each side represents one of the eight Beatitudes. In front of the chapel, six carvings within the paving represent Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Charity, Faith and Temperance.

Inside the chapel, visitors can see the cloak of Pope Paul VI which hangs on one of the walls and was presented to the church on the Pope’s official state visit in 1964.