"And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. Behold you shall conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son: and you shall call his name Jesus" Luke 1:30-31.
We invite you to celebrate the Annunciation Feast in Nazareth.
Embrace tradition and the significance of the date by participating in the procession led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem on the eve of the Feast. It ends with the Vespers at the Basilica of the Annunciation, where the Holy Mass is celebrated on the morning of March 25th.
The eternal bond between Nazareth and Christianity can be summed up as the Annunciation and Jesus of Nazareth, making it one of the most important pilgrimage sites for all Christians.
Luke the Evangelist wrote that the “angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth” (Luke 1:26). The Basilica of the Annunciation, with its hallmark white lily dome, commemorates the landmark event. It is the largest Christian sanctuary in the Middle East. It is built on two levels and incorporates the Grotto of the Annunciation and the remains of early churches built on the site.
At the time of Jesus, Nazareth was a small village of farmers and craftsmen. Early Christian tradition places St. Joseph’s carpentry workshop at the site of the Church of St. Joseph.
As Nazareth has only one freshwater spring, it is very likely that the Holy Family visited there. The Church of St. Gabriel (Greek Orthodox Church) is built over the spring that feeds Mary's Well.
"And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up: and he went into the synagogue, according to his custom, on the sabbath day; and he rose up to read" (Luke 4:16). The Synagogue Church (Greek Catholic) is believed to be where Jesus prayed, studied and later preached while in Nazareth.
The main holy sites in Nazareth are quite close together, so we recommend walking, which will give you the opportunity to explore the old streets and discover the magic of this special city.
_________________________________________________ The Holy Land Pilgrimage website is designed to help believers get better acquainted with the Holy Land. The site offers an inside look at various and diverse aspects of the Holy Land. It also provides practical information and useful links. What's more, the site also makes it easy to find local travel agents specialized in organizing pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
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