Nazareth is the place where Jesus spent most of his childhood years. It is for this reason that Nazareth earned its right to be among the top places for Christians to visit in Israel. It attracts thousands of Christian tourists from all over the world year after year. Amazingly, even the non-Christians are adding Nazareth as a place to see in their itineraries for various reasons. Some go out of curiosity, others go because it is included in their respective tour itineraries and some just because they found it in their guide book provided by the different Nazareth hotels that they are booked in. Whatever the reason is, people visiting Nazareth leave the city more than just satisfied with all the attractions that they have seen and experienced.
Nazareth is the capital city of the northern district of Israel. Incidentally, it is also the district's largest city. In its vastness, it serves as a home to various biblical sites that give significant associations to Christian pilgrimage. The streets of Nazareth are constantly flocked by pilgrims from different parts of the globe for the last two thousand years.
Nazareth, however, was not always the large city that it is today. According to the New Testament, it was just a small Jewish village when Joseph and Mary moved to the city to raise their son, Jesus. Today, it houses Christians, Israeli Arabs and Muslims. Nazareth may not look like the old village it once was, but it managed to maintain the biblical places that people go to the city for.
In this article, you will find a list of some of Nazareth structural treasures that withstood the changing times.
The Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation - The church is considered as one of the holiest places in the whole of Israel. It is the largest Christian infrastructure in the Middle East. According to Roman Catholic teachings, it is the site where the Virgin Mary was told by the Archangel Gabriel that she would bear the child Jesus.
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel - This religious structure is also sometimes referred to as St. Gabriel's Church. Contrary to the Roman Catholic tradition, the East Orthodox claims that this church stands in the very site of the annunciation.
The Greek Catholic Synagogue Church - This church is more often referred to as the Church of the Synagogue. This is said to be the traditional location where Jesus proclaimed his teachings to the people.
The Church of St. Joseph's Carpentry - This is where you will find the location of Joseph's workshop, where Jesus served as his happy and industrious helper. While exploring the area, you get encouraged to see St. Joseph as a model of chastity and fatherly love. Also, you will also learn to see his devotion to his labors as a solid inspiration and motivation for your everyday endeavors.
The Mensa Christi Church - This is said to be the location where Jesus dined with his remaining apostles after He has resurrected from His brutal death.
No matter how much the world has changed, people of different nations, especially those who are devoted to their faith, still see these places as among the top travel destinations in the world. Without a doubt, these places can definitely touch the depths of one's soul in an inexplicable manner. It is also amazing how these ancient infrastructures have survived the challenges of time. These biblical sites have been preserved and maintained for thousands of years for all of us to see. These also serve as a great reminder of an amazing story that once occurred, not only in Nazareth, but in the entire country of Israel.
It is, perhaps, because of these monuments that some people find it hard to imagine that modernization has also reached Nazareth. Some holidaymakers even think that accommodation options are very limited in the city. On the contrary, within the same city where these ancient edifices stand lie dozens of hotels that cater to different visitors with varying budget demands. As a matter of fact, some of them are even the best Israel hotels that the land has to offer. These modern hotels might be a huge contrast to the concept of Nazareth that we have built in our minds. However, they sure provide a great deal of comfort as they are easily accessible to the must-see places in the vicinity.
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Last Updated on Friday, 14 August 2009 11:44 |
Our Glilee and Nazareth day tour departs 3 times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.