Church of The Annunciation
The Church of The Annunciation is located in Nazareth, northern Israel. It is built over the traditional site of the Virgin Mary's house. The church celebrates the appearing of the angel Gabriel to Mary announcing the good news that Jesus would be born to her.
"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.'
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.'” (Luke 1:26-33)
A Byzantine church commissioned by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century first marked this site. Subsequent churches carried on the tradition of commemorating this site throughout history. The most recent church, which still stands there today, was consecrated in 1969. It is the Church of the Annunciation and was designed by the famous Italian architect, Giovanni Muzio.
The design of the church reflects the image of a lighthouse. The purpose of this is to announce the good news of the annunciation of Christ from this site to the whole world. The light of the world is here! The Lord is with us! Merry Christmas!
