The Church of Beatitudes owes its unique design to the visionary Italian architect, Antonio Barluzzi. Barluzzi designed the Church of the Beatitudes in the late 1930s. The church was completed in 1938. He modelled the church as an octagonal edifice, constructed primarily from local basalt stone and white stone, mirroring the eight Beatitudes preached by Jesus Christ in his Sermon on the Mount. 

The Church of the Beatitudes is characterized by its distinctive octagonal floor plan, where each of the eight sides symbolizes one of the eight Beatitudes. This Neo-Byzantine style building features a dome that some describe as resembling an overturned boat.  

Internal Structure and Design

Inside, the church is designed to be light and airy, with large windows intentionally placed at eye level, allowing visitors to continuously absorb the incredible scenery and feel the spirit of the place.Visitors can see virtually all the places where Jesus lived and worked, including Capernaum, just 3km away. The cloister has nine arches on most sides, except for the northern side, which has seven arches with a central, taller, and wider arch leading to the entrance.

The lower interior walls are cased in marble veneer, and the dome is adorned with gold mosaic. Around the altar, the mosaic pavement depicts seven virtues: Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Each of the eight Beatitudes is also inscribed in Latin in the upper windows.

The central dome, forms a focal point that invites the gaze upwards. It’s a stark contrast to the darker basalt stone, creating a visual interplay between the elements. The inner dome is adorned with representations of the four evangelists, their symbols etched intricately in the gold and blue mosaic. The internal surface of the dome, adorned with a radiant golden mosaic, is illuminated by a further eight windows situated at its base.

The church’s eight windows, crafted from vibrantly colored stained glass, each bear one of the eight “Blessed” verses in Latin.  Encircling the altar on the church floor is a meticulously designed mosaic. Imbued within the mosaic pavement are symbols embodying the cardinal virtues of Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, and Temperance, along with the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Small windows allow the visitors to stay connected to the surrounding gardens.

External Gardens

The church is surrounded by lush, meticulously tended gardens with shaded paths and benches, providing ample space for quiet reflection. Three altars are also provided in the landscaped garden for group worship. These altars were recently moved closer to the sisters’ living quarters and guesthouse due to settlers encroaching on the lands near the church complex, highlighting the ongoing political dynamics in the Holy Land. The area has also experienced challenges, such as a recent arson attack that scorched trees but fortunately left the church undamaged, serving as a “stark reminder of how difficult things can be in the Holy Land for Christians”.