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The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (Ορθόδοξος Ιερός Ναός του Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου) is an important Orthodox Christian pilgrimage site in Nazareth, Israel. It’s also known as the Greek Orthodox Church of Archangel Gabriel (Ορθόδοξος Ιερός Ναός του Αρχάγγελου Γαβριήλ).
Religious Tradition
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation sits above the spring where Orthodox Christians believe the Annunciation took place. As the Virgin Mary went to draw water from the spring, Archangel Gabriel appeared and informed her that she would conceive and give birth to a son who she would name Jesus.
The spring was the only source of water in Nazareth at the time. It’s located 650 meters (2,130 feet) from the Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation, which is believed to sit over the cave where the Virgin Mary lived.
History
The first church was probably built on the site in the 4th century. The Crusaders built another church at the beginning of the 12th century, but it was destroyed by the Mamluks in 1263. The Franciscans were in control of the spring between 1628 and 1634.
The current church dates back to 1750, when Daher al-Omar (1689-1775), the Bedouin ruler of the Galilee, gave the Greek Orthodox community permission to build it.
Nave
The church has a central nave with two aisles. It contains a beautiful wooden iconostasis donated by a Greek merchant in 1767. Romanian artists redecorated the church from 1977 to 1978.
Spring
An arched passageway leads down to a small chapel. It has seven steps and is decorated with Armenian tiles. The structure at the end of the passage was probably built by the Crusaders in the 12th century.
Visitors can look down to the spring from a railing at the end of the chapel. Above the spring is a painting of the Annunciation.
Mary’s Well
About 140 meters (460 feet) from the church is Mary’s Well, which was once fed by the spring. It served for several centuries as a local source of water. The fountain was repaired in 1967 and again in 2000 but doesn’t function.
Next Time…
Unfortunately, due to a tight schedule, the only site in Nazareth we were able to visit was the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. I hope to return one day to explore the city more thoroughly.
