Thursday 22 September 2011

The Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth

Travel article Nr. 1 related to the important historical places in the “Life of Jesus”.

Nazareth was a small town of 200 people. In this Basilica of the Annunciation, you find the grotto where Mary and her parents lived. The legend tells us that Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was going to give birth to a son called Jesus. More than 2000 years ago single mothers didn’t exist, they were stoned to dead. Joseph and Mary knew each other for a very long time and married, which saved Mary’s life and resulted into the creation of Christianity. In a later phase of their lives when Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned from their escape to Egypt, they also lived here in the grotto. This is a very important pilgrim site and in 427 a Byzantine church was constructed above the grotto. This church and also the later Crusade church from the 12th century were destroyed. The current Basilica was built in 1969. When you enter the church grounds, you see a gallery around the inner square which displays many mosaic art pieces which all represent Mary. Each mosaic work has been donated by a different country in the world. This modern church consists of two floors: the ground floor with a lower area containing the grotto and the first floor where the most beautiful mosaics are displayed. The art piece of Japan shows a Japanese Mary with a Japanese Jesus, this is a very special interpretation of bringing religion closer to the hearts of the Japanese people.

Nazareth was een kleine stad met ongeveer 200 inwoners. In deze Basiliek van de Maria Boodschap, vind je de grot waar Maria woonde samen met haar ouders. De legende vertelt ons dat de engel Gabriël, Maria verkondigde dat zij ging bevallen van een zoon die Jezus noemde. Meer dan 2000 jaar geleden bestonden er geen alleenstaande moeders, ze werden ter dood veroordeeld door steniging. Joseph die Maria reeds lang kende trouwde met haar. Dit redde niet alleen haar leven maar resulteerde ook in de creatie van het Christendom, één van de grootste godsdiensten ter wereld. In een latere fase van hun leven, na de terugkeer uit Egypte, leefden Joseph, Maria en Jezus ook in deze grotten in Nazareth. Dit is een enorm belangrijke pelgrimsplaats en in 427 werd hier een Byzantijnse kerk gebouwd bovenop de grot. Deze kerk en ook de 12de eeuwse kruisvaarderskerk werden vernietigd. De huidige Basiliek werd gebouwd in 1969. Als je de kerkgronden binnengaat zie je een overdekte galerij met mozaïeken kunstwerken gedoneerd door verschillende landen uit de wereld. De kerk zelf bestaat uit verschillende verdiepingen: op het gelijkvloers met een lager gelegen gedeelte vind je de grot, en op de eerste verdieping de mooiste mozaïekwerken. Het kunstwerk van Japan toont een Japanse Maria en Jezus, dit is een zeer opmerkelijke benadering die poogt de religie dichter te brengen in de harten van het Japanse volk..

Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
Our travel articles related to the important historical places in the “Life of Jesus”:
1. The Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth
2. The House and carpentry of Joseph in Nazareth underneath the Saint Joseph church
3. Grotto of the Nativity - Why Bethlehem instead of Nazareth? The flight to Egypt.
4. Capernaum in Galilee, the Town of Jesus.
5. Baptismal site in the Jordan River where John baptised Jesus.
6. Sermon on the mount, our visit to Mount of Beatitudes.
7. Tabgha, the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.
8. The Mount of Olives, one of the must important places for Jesus and the Jews.
9. The Basilica of the Agony, the evening before the arrest of Jesus.
10. An emotional visit on the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried the cross.
11. Touching the rock on which Jesus died, the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
12. The Stone of Unction in the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
13. The Tomb of Jesus and the Resurrection, Church of the Holy Selpuchre.

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3 comments:

  1. very interesting...looking forward to the rest of your travel reports:-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful impressions from this basilica in Nazareth. Thank you very much for sharing !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post! Someday I hope to visit Israel.

    ReplyDelete

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