Church of the Annunciation

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This article refers to the basilica in Nazareth. For information on the church associated with the Blagoveschenskaya Tower in Russia, see Kremlin towers or Cathedral of the Annunciation.

The Church of the Annunciation, sometimes also referred to as the Basilica of the Annunciation is a church in Nazareth, in modern-day northern Israel; it was established in the place where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the Annunciation took place. In other words, it is the location where Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a virgin, was visited by the Archangel Gabriel and told that she had been selected to be the mother of Jesus. The Greek Orthodox tradition holds that this event occurred while Mary was drawing water from the well in Nazareth, and erected St. Gabriel's Church at that alternate site.

The current church is a two-story building, erected over the site of an earlier Byzantine and Crusader church. Inside, the lower level contains the Grotto of the Annunciation, believed by many Christians to be the actual remains of the original childhood home of Mary.

Under Roman Catholic canon law, it enjoys the status of a minor basilica.

It is a historically significant site and may even be considered sacred within some circles of Christianity, especially Catholicism. The basilica attracts many Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Christian visitors every year.

[edit] History

The first shrine was probably built sometime in the middle of the 4th century, comprising an altar in the cave in which Mary had lived. A larger structure was commissioned by Emperor Constantine, who had directed his mother, Saint Helena, 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 AD, but it was destroyed in the 7th century after the Muslim conquest of Palestine.

The second church was constructed following the Christian conquest of the area in the First Crusade. It was destroyed in 1263 AD after the final destruction of the Crusader kingdoms. A small number of Franciscan Friars continued to occupy the ruins, in spite of occasional persecutions, and constructed a small church on the site in 1620 when Christians were permitted to return.

Sheikh Dhaher el Amer permitted construction of the fourth church in 1730. This structure was enlarged in 1877, and then completely demolished in 1955 to allow construction of a new basilica, which was completed in the 1960s. It is the largest Christian sanctuary in the Middle East, and was dedicated in 1964 by Pope Paul VI.

In the 1990's there were considerable tensions between Christian and Muslim inhabitants of Nazareth over a plan to build a mosque in front of the Church of the Annunciation. Nevertheless, the church is a source of pride for inhabitants of Nazareth regardless of religious affiliation, and many civic events not connected with its religious function tale place in its vicinity.

[edit] References

• Day of Discovery: Three Marys Jesus Loved, 2006 CBS video documentary
• Nazareth places of interest
• The Catholic Encyclopedia, Nazareth [1]
• Nazareth - The Basilica of the Annunciation, from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs