Church of the Twelve Apostles

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles Israel in Capernaum is one of the most visually striking churches on the Sea of Galilee. Its distinctive pink domes and red roofs stand out against the blue water and green hillsides, making it one of the most photographed buildings on the Kinneret shore. Built in 1931 on Byzantine foundations, the church sits within a walled garden compound that includes a small monastery and ancient olive trees, and its peaceful lakeside setting makes it one of the most beautiful stops in the Galilee.

The Tradition of the Twelve

The church is dedicated to the twelve apostles whom Jesus called from the shores of this very lake. Tradition holds that the hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee was the setting for one of the most significant moments in the Gospel narrative: the night Jesus spent in prayer before calling his disciples. The Gospel of Luke describes it this way: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). Mark’s account adds that Jesus “went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him” (Mark 3:13-14). The tradition associating this site with that moment of calling, the night of prayer, the morning gathering, the naming of the twelve, is the reason the Greek Orthodox church here carries that dedication. For pilgrims walking the shores of the Galilee, the church of the Twelve Apostles is a place to pause and consider what it meant for twelve ordinary men to be called, named, and sent.

The Church Interior

Inside, the church is decorated with colorful icons in the traditional Byzantine style, depicting scenes from the Gospels and the lives of the apostles. The atmosphere is distinctly different from the Franciscan churches nearby: more ornate, more colorful, and more Eastern in its sensibility. Gold, crimson, and deep blue dominate the icon paintings, and the incense-scented air carries a quality of ancient continuity. The church is small enough to feel intimate, and the icons, painted in the flat, frontal Byzantine tradition, have an intensity that invites contemplation rather than mere admiration.

Father Irinarchos: The Monk Who Welcomes the World

For over thirty years, the monastery has been tended by Father Irinarchos (Mitkas), a Greek monk born in Macedonia in 1964 who arrived in the Holy Land at the age of 24 and never left. Irinarchos is one of those rare figures who make a place unforgettable. He chose to remain a simple monk rather than accept ordination as a priest, preferring to stay at Capernaum and welcome every visitor who walks through the gate.

And welcome he does. Father Irinarchos greets visitors with a warmth and openness that turns a quick stop into a conversation, and a conversation into a memory. Under his care, the monastery has grown from a quiet outpost into a thriving community, hosting over 100 baptisms a year, weddings, and regular services in both Greek and Russian. He knows the garden, the peacocks, the history, and the stories, and he shares them all with the generosity of someone who genuinely believes that this place belongs to everyone who comes to it.

A Photogenic Shore

The Church of the Twelve Apostles is widely regarded as one of the most photogenic buildings on the Sea of Galilee. The pink domes rising above the garden wall, with the blue water of the Kinneret behind them and the Golan Heights on the eastern horizon, create an image that is instantly recognizable and hard to improve on. The bougainvillea climbing the walls, the peacocks wandering the garden paths, and the play of light on the domes in the morning hours all contribute to an atmosphere that is both beautiful and quietly sacred. Photographers visiting the Galilee regularly place this church at the top of their list.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

The Church of the Twelve Apostles adds depth and beauty to a Capernaum visit. Hoshen Tours includes it for visitors interested in the Eastern Orthodox tradition alongside the Catholic sites of the Galilee, and it is a natural complement to nearby Tabgha and the Primacy of Peter chapel. The garden alone is worth the visit.

Visitors exploring the Galilee often combine Twelve Apostles with nearby destinations such as Capernaum, Church of the Primacy of Peter, and Church of the Loaves and Fishes, each offering its own distinctive perspective on the region’s layered history and landscape. A broader itinerary might also include Tabgha and Sea of Galilee, both within easy reach and rich in their own right.

Every Hoshen Tours itinerary is private and fully customizable. Contact us to begin planning your journey through the Galilee.