Nazareth - the hometown of Jesus
Nazareth is one of the most important Christian sites in Israel, being the hometown of Jesus’ parents and the place where Jesus lived until he was 30 years old. It was a Jewish town until the 6th century CE and archeological remains of this period can be seen within the city, including perhaps even Jesus’ home. Today, it is the largest Arab city in Israel. Two-thirds of its population are Muslim and one-third Christian. Its religious sites are often viewed within the context of an organized tour. However, it can be visited satisfactorily on one’s own.
A good place from which to start your visit is the area of the City Square. It is close to the souk and main churches. There is a government tourist information office by the square and they can provide you with a map and directions. Hence, try and park close to this area. Enter “Tourist Information, Nazareth” into Waze and click on “Tourist Information, Ministry of Tourism, נצרת.“ There is no central parking area in the city but rather a multitude of small fee-paying parking lots and street parking on Pango.
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The interesting archeology of Nazareth
Tourism in Nazareth is all about its splendid churches. All are relatively modern, although they were often built at the sites of previous Byzantine and Crusader churches. These in turn may have been built on buildings associated with the life and mission of Jesus.
At the time of Jesus, Nazareth was a totally Jewish town and a regional center, and it remained Jewish until the 6th century CE. The Jewish town was located where the Church of the Annunciation, the Mary of Nazareth International Center and the Church of St. Joseph are today. These buildings are in close proximity to each other, and it is not surprising that excavations around these structures have revealed findings from the 1st century Roman period during which Jesus lived. Excavations at the Mary of Nazareth International Center, in particular, have been very revealing, as they may have discovered the actual home in which Jesus lived until the time he became a preacher (Biblical Archaeology Review 41:2, 2015). At the very least, this is a home from this period.
It is often assumed that Jesus came from a simple peasant’s home and that his father Joseph was a lowly carpenter. However, this may not have been the case. Joseph is described in the New Testament as a tekton. In ancient Greek this means an artisan or craftsman, and Joseph could have been a carpenter, woodcutter, or even a building contractor. From the ruins at the Mary of Nazareth International Center, it is apparent that this family lived in a very respectable Roman-period rectilinear courtyard home with multiple rooms.
Jesus probably worked with his father until age 30 when he left Nazareth to become a preacher. He moved to Capernaum and preached in this town and in others around Lake Kinneret. A subsequent visit to his childhood home did not go well and he was driven from Nazareth because of his ideas.
When the Sisters of Nazareth Convent was built in 1880 across the street from the Church of the Annunciation, the nuns and their workers found a cistern, Crusader walls and vaults, Roman period tombs, and another building partially built into the hillside. They made a small museum displaying the pottery, coins and other specimens they had found. During construction of new convent buildings, the walls and mosaics of a large Byzantine period church were also discovered. But what were these impressive religious buildings doing at this site?
A subsequent Nazareth Archeological Project begun in 2006 revealed that Byzantine and Crusader churches were protecting a residence from the Roman period, part of which was built into the hillside. This building had a completely intact entrance, several rooms and a stairway. It is displayed inside the Mary of Nazareth International Center.
A possible clue to the nature of this building comes from a 7th century pilgrim who wrote that the churches were built over vaults over a spring and the remains of two tombs. Between them was the house in which Jesus was raised. The tombs are from a later period, but it is not out of the question that this was indeed Jesus’ home.
There are also archeological findings from the ancient Jewish town of Nazareth in the grounds of the Church of the Annunciation. When the Franciscan church was demolished to build the present church, silos, cisterns, caves and a dwelling were found. In addition, in the grotto of the church itself is a cave that was part of a building. By tradition this is thought to have been the childhood home of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Archeological ruins in the grounds of the Church of the Annunciation.
The Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation
The grotto at the Church of the Annunciation
The upper level of the Church of the Annunciation functions as the parish church for the Nazareth Catholic community.
The Basilica of the Annunciation
This two-story basilica was completed in 1969 and is the largest Christian church in the Middle East and one of the holiest Christian sites in the world. By tradition, it is considered to be built on the childhood home of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Annunciation means announcement or proclamation and according to the Gospel of Luke (1:26-28) this is where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would conceive miraculously and that Jesus would be called the son of God and the Messiah. Mary responded “Let it be to me according to your word.” Christians often view this moment as the turning point in history when God entered human history physically.
This site has probably been a place of worship since the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. Early sources already refer to this location as “the house of the Virgin Mary.” A Byzantine church was commissioned by Emperor Constantine I, and his mother the Empress Helena was responsible for this project. At about this time, she also founded the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Crusaders built a much larger church over the Byzantine remains, and Nazareth became a major pilgrimage center during Crusader rule
The church is a two-level structure. The lower level is dark, ancient and has an archeological atmosphere. It contains a sunken octagonal-shaped grotto containing the cave where Christian tradition holds that the archangel Gabriel spoke to the young Mary. The cave was probably originally part of a house built of masonry. Inside the cave is an altar with the Latin inscription: “Here the word was made flesh.” This summarizes the theological meaning of the church. The cave is flanked by remnants of earlier churches.
The upper level is bright and souring and represents resurrection, glory and the universality of Christianity. It contains the parish church for Nazareth’s Catholic community. The impressive cupola is directly over the lower grotto and is in the shape of an inverted lily that opens its petals to the shrine below the cupula. The lilly is a traditional symbol of Mary’s purity.
Entrance to the church is from the west. On this façade are reliefs of Mary, Gabriel and the four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Entry to the second floor is from a spiral staircase from the lower floor, or using outside stairs, with this entrance being at the northern side of the large elevated square. There is an elevator to the second floor, but this is outside the main church and needs to be requested.
There is no admission charge. There is a gift shop in the complex. Restrooms are by the entrance to the complex. The grotto is usually open from 5.45 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. and the upper basilica from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Outside the church are displayed artworks about Mary donated by countries worldwide. Did Mary look Japanese? This is not a relevant question. Rather these pictures demonstrate the global nature of Christianity and the cultural diversity within the Church.
According to the tradition of the Greek Orthodox, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary by Mary’s well, and the Greek Orthodox Church is by the spring.
The simpler facade of the Church of St. Joseph
Ruins in the basement of the Church of St. Joseph were probably part of a dwelling.
The Church of St. Joseph
The Church of St. Joseph is a smaller and simpler church that the Church of the Annunciation and is traditionally associated with the workshop of Joseph.
Joseph was the husband of Mary, the legal father and guardian of Jesus (but not the biological father), and he was traditionally considered a carpenter or builder. He is of the lineage of King David. He has no speaking part in the Gospels, but plays a crucial protective role in the Jesus story.
The church was built by the Franciscans in 1911 over the remains of a Crusader church. There may also be Byzantine remains beneath the current church. The Franciscans emphasize simplicity and humility and this fits the spirit of this church.
At its entrance is a portrayal of Jesus standing between Mary and Joseph. You can descend to the basement of the church and there are archeological findings here of silos and a cistern from the Roman period. The presence of mosaics in these ruins suggest that this basin may have been used as a baptistery by the first Judeo-Christians of Nazareth.
The Church of St Joseph can be reached by a walkway from the grounds of the Church of the Annunciation and is only a short distance. There are restrooms by this path. The church is open from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
The Souq (market)
The souq is in the picturesque Old City and is a short walk from the City Square and the Church of the Annunciation. The streets winding up the hillside are quite picturesque. The souq is open from the early morning, but closes in the afternoon.
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
Based on an apocryphal source, the Greek Orthodox Church holds that Mary was first greeted by the angel Gabriel at the spring in Nazareth. Frightened and amazed, she returned home and there received the full message of the annunciation. The church is not exactly over the spring, but over a channel leading from the nearby spring and which leads the short distance to Mary’s Well.
A nice although not the most direct way to reach the church is via the Souk. The arched entrance to the souk is a short distance from St. Joseph’s Church. When you come to T-junction turn to the right and from there it is a straight path to the church. The alleys have no names and no signs and you should check on your progress by asking.
The church is in a typical Greek Orthodox style with a richly decorated iconostasis, hanging lamps and and domed ceiling. You descend into a dimly lit sanctuary to hear and see water issuing from a channel.
Walk the short distance to an open square where Mary’s Well is located. What you see today is not the original first-century installation, but a commemorative fountain built in the Ottoman-period with later modern reconstruction. Nevertheless, the location preserves the historical memory of Nazareth’s main water source. This fountain may or may not have circulating water. To see the original source of the water, you need to go to the church.
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annuciation
The rich iconostasis of the Greek Orthodox Church
The water source from the spring in the crypt of the church
The commemorative fountain of Mary's Well
The Mary of Nazareth International Center (currently closed)
This center is across the road from the Church of the Annunciation. It has received support from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches. Formerly run by a French Catholic group with an ecumenical ministry, it is now run by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. A visit here can add meaning to the significance of Mary and the churches you have visited. There is shown a 55-minute, wide-screen, multi-media presentation, offered in 10 languages, about Mary’s place in the Bible. It is presented in four parts, each viewed in a different room. First is from creation to Mary’s childhood, then from the Annunciation to the birth of Jesus, Jesus’ 30 years in Nazareth and his public life, and finally from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. There are also exhibits on Mary as a Jewish woman, Mary in the Qu’ran, Mary as a source of Christian unity, and Mary in the tradition of the Eastern Christian churches. One can pray in the Chapel of the Unity, tour a terraced Biblical garden, view their archeological site, and experience the city of Nazareth from the roof terrace. There is also a cafeteria and gift shop. Groups are requested to make reservations in advance. The Center is open from Monday through Saturday from 9.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Nazareth Village
A short traveling distance from the City Square, in an open area in the middle of Nazareth, a Jewish agricultural community has been created from the time of Jesus, in the 1st century CE. It is extremely well done with a guide, people in costume at various stops during the walk, some of whom have a speaking part (including in English). The tour lasts 75 minutes and is suitable for adults and families with older children. The guide attempts to link agricultural metaphors from the sayings of Jesus to agriculture of that time. Other than the wine press area, which is original, all the stops are reconstructed, although the material used is that which would have been used at the time of Jesus. The stages include an olive orchard, a wine press, olive press, potter’s workshop, carpenter’s workshop, weaver’s workshop, and a synagogue. The tour is not wheelchair or stroller friendly, as footpaths are used for authenticity.
The tours are in English, although tours can be accommodated in other languages for groups. Group bookings should be made at least one week in advance. There are tours for individuals and families at 10.45 a.m. and 1.45 p.m. each day. These should also be booked in advance, although drop-ins may be accommodated. Their phone number is 724-645 6042 and e-mail: booking@nazarethvillage.com. The site is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, with the last tour being at 3.30 pm. There is an admission charge. Directions: Enter “Nazareth Village” into Waze and click on “Nazareth Village, 5079 Street, Nazareth, Israel.” It is also possible to walk to the village from the City Square. It is a distance of 1.5 km and should take about 25 minutes. This is their website.
From the Nazareth Village it is a short car drive to the Salesian Church of the Adolescent Jesus. This church was built in 1918 and is thought to be where Jesus spent his youth. It functions as a vocational school. It may well be closed when you get there, but its location offers an impressive view over Nazareth.
The weaver at the Nazareth Village.
The cloth was dyed with natural materials.
The carpenter at the Nazareth Village.
Mount Precipice
Mount Precipice is a popular lookout on a mountain ridge just south of Nazareth that offers a spectacular view over the Jezreel Valley. It is also traditionally associated with an event descriped in the Gospel of Luke when the message of Jesus was rejected by the people of his home town and they attempted to throw him down the cliff. He had given a discourse in the synagogue on the book of Isaiah:
And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage (Luke 4:24-28).
Zarephath and Naaman were not Jewish and his suggestion that the prophets of Israel were also concerned with non-Jews offended the people. Nevertheless, Jesus was able to escape by walking through the crowd. A large open-air plaza and amphitheater were prepared here for the 2009 visit of Pope Benedict XVI, and he held a mass attended by thousands of people.
From the summit you have a 360-degree view and can see Mount Tabor, Givat HaMoreh, Jezreel Valley, Mount Gilboa, Afula and on clear days, parts of the Carmel Range, as well as Nazareth. There are signs to help with identification.
Archaeologists have also found evidence in the form of flint tools that the ridge and surrounding Nazareth basin were inhabited or used by early humans, especially during the Paleolithic period.
Directions: Enter “Mount Precipice” into Waze or Moovit.
View of Mount Tabor from Mount Precipice
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