Basilica of the Annunciation
The Church of the Annunciation (Latin: Basilica Annuntiationis, Arabic: كنيسة البشارة, Hebrew: כנסיית הבשורה), sometimes also referred to as the Basilica of the Annunciation, is a Catholic church in Nazareth, in northern Israel. It is one of two claimants to the site of the Annunciation – in which angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus – the other being the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation.[1][2]
This article is about the Catholic basilica in Nazareth. For other uses, see Church of the Annunciation (disambiguation).Church of the Annunciation
1969
1969
55 metres
It was established over what Catholic tradition holds to be the site of the house of the Virgin Mary.
History[edit]
Tradition[edit]
The church was established at the site where, according to one tradition, the Annunciation took place. Another tradition, based on the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, holds that this event commenced while Mary was drawing water from a local spring in Nazareth, and the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation was erected at that alternate site.
Late Roman/Byzantine shrine[edit]
Christian tradition has held that a structure was commissioned by Emperor Constantine I, whose mother, Saint Helena, helped to found churches commemorating important events in Jesus Christ's life. The Church of the Annunciation was founded around the same time as the Church of the Nativity (the birthplace) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the tomb). Some version of it was known to have still been in existence around 570.[3]
A competing view is that the Church was the site of the Holy House, which, according to Catholic legend, was transported by angels across the sea to Loreto, Italy, at the time of the Muslim conquest.[4]
Crusader church[edit]
The second church was built over the ruins of the Byzantine-era church during the Crusades, following the conquest of Nazareth by Tancred in 1102. The Crusader-era church was never fully completed. Five Romanesque capitals carved by artists from northern France, and discovered during excavations in 1909, had not yet been installed in 1187 when news of Saladin's victory in the Battle of Hattin reached the city.[5] Saladin granted permission to Franciscan priests to remain in Nazareth to oversee services at the church.[5]
In 1260, Baybars and his Mamluk army destroyed the church during their attack on Nazareth.[5]
Significance and rank[edit]
Under Canon Law, the church enjoys the status of a minor basilica.[12] A historically significant site, considered sacred within some circles of Christianity, particularly Catholicism, the basilica attracts many Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Christian visitors every year.
Mass arrangements[edit]
As of November 2018, Catholic Masses are given in the Grotto, Upper Basilica, and adjacent St. Joseph's Church in the Arabic and Italian languages, according to the main church sign in English.
Front door of the church, depicting major events in Jesus' life.
Night view of the Basilica
Mosaic from Ukraine in the church courtyard
