welcome to

church of the primacy of st peter

Tabgha is known for a famous miracle – a miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes performed by Jesus. Five loaves and two fishes fed five thousand people (Luke 9:10-17). It is situated northwest of the Sea of Galilee, about 1.8 miles southeast of Capernaum.

Also not far away from Tabgha, Jesus appeared the third time to His disciples after Jesus’ resurrection.

John 21:1-7 “¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ^{3 ‘}I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’

‘No,’ they answered.

⁶He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.”

The Church of the Primacy of Peter

The Church of the Primacy of Peter was built here in 1934 around what was left of a fourth century church. It was built by Franciscans to commemorate a miraculous catch of 153 fish by Jesus that occurred here (John 21:1-24).

*Photo was contributed by Dr. Rasmussen.

the old quarry

The rock-cut steps around the south of the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter may be remnants of an old quarry from the fourth century CE.

heart rocks

Below the steps are six heart-shaped double-column blocks known as the Twelve Thrones, which can be under water when the lake level is high. Originally designed for the angle of a colonnade, they were probably taken from disused buildings and placed here.

heart to jesus

This heart-shaped block reminds us of how Jesus loves us so much that He gave up His throne in heaven, came to us and died for our sins, was resurrected on the third day, ascended to the heavens and sits on the right hand of the Father. Whoever believes in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, we shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”