The second day of our visiting in the land of Israel will be divided into multiple posts, as like the first day of visiting it was full of many places.
The day began at the Church of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor. This is a smallish mountain, but it sticks up from the surrounding valley with steep slopes. We had to change from our bus to smaller vans to go up. (Three or four vans actually) The road up is full of hairpin switchback turns. There exists a walking lane, but if one walked up there and back down it would probably be the entire day's activity.
After passing the ruins and some garden spaces, the gate of the church is before you.
Inside the door is a holy water font. The holy water fonts were generally stocked with holy water in the Holy Land.
The apse has a mosaic of the Transfiguration, which is also the fourth Luminous Mystery of the rosary. (The Luminous ones are the new set added by St. Pope John Paul II.)
Our pastor offered Mass in a side chapel. The crucifix was constructed of many pieces of wood.
View from the patio outside the church, giving an idea of how far up the mountain is from its surroundings.
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