Sea of Galilee: Church of Loaves and Fishes: January 28 - Part 2

In close proximity to the Mount of Beatitudes is the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, also known as the Church of the Multiplication. The miraculous feeding of five thousand people is described in Mark 6:30-44, just before Jesus walks on water. The Gospel account of the loaves and fishes does not specify where it took place; only that it was in a "remote place" (Mark 6:32,35) on the shores of Galilee.

According to Mark's account, Jesus and his disciples had gone out in a boat to this remote place for some peace and quiet, but the crowds ran ahead "from all the towns" and met him when he landed. By then it was dinnertime and they were not in a village where food could easily be bought, so Jesus fed them all by miraculously multiplying his disciples' five loaves and two fishes.

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.

Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:40-44). And remember, this does not include women and children.

The mosaic floor depicting the feeding of the multitudes is magnificent.

Once again, hearing the story told added much to the experience. Our storyteller used the version from John 6:1-14, the one that says: “…here is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" You might consider reading the different versions of the same story. What are the similarities? The differences?

Each chapel/church we visited we sang hymns. At times we sounded like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - the accoustics are incredible. Mary Ann, one of our pilgrims, used to sing professionally. A couple of times she sang solos which made the hairs on the back or your neck stand straight up - what a gift of music she has!