According to one ancient Christian tradition, Mount Tabor is the site of the Transfiguration of Christ, during which Jesus began to radiate light and was seen conversing with Moses and Elijah. Mount Tabor is located in the lower Galilee.
The Jerusalem cross at the gate.
During the period of the Crusades, the mountain changed hands many times between Muslims and Christians. In 1099 the crusaders fortified the area of the church and the monastery which was on the peak of the mountain, in order to protect the pilgrims from the Muslims attacks.
Between 1919 until 1924 an impressive Roman Catholic church of the Franciscan order.
Between 1919 until 1924 an impressive Roman Catholic church of the Franciscan order named "Church of the Transfiguration" was built on the peak of Mount Tabor.
Currently, on the mountaintop there are two Christian monasteries, divided into Eastern Orthodox (northeast) and Roman Catholic (southeast) areas.
The architect who designed the church, as well as other churches in Israel, Antonio Barluzzi.
Biblical accounts of Christ's transfiguration by Matthew.
The interior of the church.
In 1101, when Crusaders controlled the area, the Benedictine monks rebuilt a ruined basilica and erected a fortified abbey.
On the upper part of the church, above the altar, there is a mosaic which depicts the Transfiguration, and on the Transfiguration holiday on August 6, it is illuminated by the sun beams which are returned from a glass plate located on the church's floor.
The view from atop Mount Tabor.
The southern chapel is dedicated to Elijah the prophet and it contains an image of him in his confrontaition with the Ba'al prophets on Mount Carmel.
The church was built upon the ruins of a Byzantine church from the fifth or sixth century and a Crusader church from the 12th century, which was built in honor of Tancred, Prince of Galilee. The friars of the church live next to the church in a monastery established in 1873.
The chapel beneath the mosaic.
On the upper part of the church, above the altar, there is a mosaic which depicts the Transfiguration, and on the Transfiguration holiday on August 6, it is illuminated by the sun beams which are returned from a glass plate located on the church's floor.
In the two bell towers on either side of the entrance to the building, there are two Chapels.
The northern chapel is dedicated to Moses and it contains an image of him getting the Tablets of Stone on Mount Sinai.
The view from the top.
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