Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Twelve Apostles in Capernaum, located on the coast of the Sea of Galilee.

© Dmitriy Feldman svarshik/Shutterstock

Monastery of the Twelve Apostles

LoginSave

Peacocks strut around the serene, deeply shaded lakefront garden of this Greek Orthodox site, 200m as the crow flies (1.6km on foot or by car) northeast of the Capernaum synagogue, at the eastern edge of the ancient city. The chapel-sized church, its distinctive red domes visible from afar (including from the Mount of the Beatitudes), dates from 1925, but the whole complex – from the grape trellises to the rich interior iconography (redone for the millennium) – casts a very Byzantine spell.

To get there, follow the signs on Rte 87 to 'Capernaum (Orthodox)' and turn right just before the entrance to Capernaum National Park.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • 500649340 2015; 4847930; Annunciation; Architecture; Basilica; Basilica of the Annunciation; Christianity; Church; Church of the Annunciation; Courtyard; Dome; Galillee; Horizontal; Israel; Middle Eastern Culture; Nazareth - Israel; No People; Orthodox; Orthodox Church; Outdoors; Palestinian; Photography; Religion; Spirituality; Travel; Exterior of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

    Basilica of the Annunciation

    20.57 MILES

    Dominating the Old City’s skyline is the lantern-topped cupola of this Franciscan-run Roman Catholic basilica, an audacious modernist structure that’s…

  • Ruins of amphitheater in the ancient Roman city. Bet She'an National Park, Israel 165513272 semicircular, stone, ruins, theater, travel, row, past, archeology, destroyed, engineering, column, layers, culture, middle, history, east, old, roman, open, level, israel, building, technology, circular, spectators, bet, area, time, place, architecture, city, arena, seating, tribune, tourism, art, antique, amphitheater, mediterranean, ancient, scene, style, sliced, structure, exterior, pavement, performance, national park, beit, shean

    Beit She’an National Park

    26.71 MILES

    Beit She’an’s extraordinary Roman ruins are the best place in Israel to get a sense of what it was like to live, work and shop in the Roman Empire…

  • Magnificent monastery surrounded by columns and slender tall palms and cypresses. The Church of the Beatitudes is a Catholic church of the Italian Franciscan convent on the Mount of Beatitudes. ; Shutterstock ID 2170188309; purchase_order: 65050; job: ; client: ; other: 2170188309

    Mount of the Beatitudes

    1.33 MILES

    Since at least the 4th century, this landscaped hillside is believed to be where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), whose opening…

  • GINOSAR, ISRAEL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2018: An ancient wooden boat found in Ginosar, Israel; Shutterstock ID 1323755573; purchase_order: 65050; job: ; client: ; other: 1323755573

    Ancient Galilee Boat

    4.11 MILES

    In 1986, when the level of the Sea of Galilee was particularly low, a local fisherman made an extraordinary discovery: the remains of a wooden boat later…

  • Upper Galilee Museum of Prehistory

    Upper Galilee Museum of Prehistory

    24.52 MILES

    Israel is home to some of the world's most important prehistoric sites, several of them in the Hula Valley. This gem of a museum, which draws…

  • Cranes in Agamon Hula bird refuge, Hula Valley, Israel.

    Agamon HaHula

    15.57 MILES

    These restored wetlands are one of the best places in Israel to see cranes, pelicans, storks and an incredible 400 other bird species. To cover the 8.5km…

  • The Cave of the Coffins facade, Bet She'arim National Park, Israel.

    Beit She’arim National Park

    28.9 MILES

    Nestled between Mt Carmel and Lower Galilee, spellbinding Beit She’arim is pitted with ancient catacombs, many of which you can enter. In the 2nd century…

  • The Zavitan hexagonal pillars pool in Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve.

    Yehudiya Nature Reserve

    8.15 MILES

    Both casual strollers and experienced hikers – especially those who aren’t averse to getting wet – will find plenty to engage and challenge them in…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Capernaum

0.28 MILES

The New Testament says that the prosperous lakeside village of Capernaum (estimated population 1500), on the imperial highway from Tiberias to Damascus,…

2. Mount of the Beatitudes

1.33 MILES

Since at least the 4th century, this landscaped hillside is believed to be where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), whose opening…

3. Church of the Primacy of St Peter

1.76 MILES

A shady, fragrant garden leads down to the lakeshore and to this Franciscan chapel (built 1933), lit by the vivid colours of abstract stained glass. The…

5. Domus Galilaeae

2.07 MILES

Near the summit of the Mount of the Beatitudes, this exquisite modern complex serves as a venue in which Christians – especially Catholic seminarians –…

6. Korazim National Park

2.19 MILES

On a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Korazim is a good place to get an idea of the layout of a prosperous, midsized Galilean town in the time of…

7. Bethsaida

3.58 MILES

The ruins here, inside HaYarden Park Nature Reserve (Jordan River Park), are believed to be those of the ancient fishing village of Bethsaida, where Jesus…

8. Majrase Nature Reserve

3.64 MILES

Located in the northeastern corner of the Sea of Galilee, the spring-fed streams and jungle-like wetlands of this reserve are ideal for a refreshing …