Nazareth

The town in southern Galilee in which Jesus grew up and spent His hidden years.

Nazareth was set in an upland basin which meant that it was somewhat secluded, yet it was close to the trade routes and to the main road from Rome to Jerusalem. There is no reference to it in the Old Testament and its ordinariness later led Nathanael to speak disparagingly of it. John 1: 43-51.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem; born a king, which made Him a threat to the temporal power of the day - Herod the Great. Jesus' earliest years were spent in Egypt to escape the slaughter of the innocents by Herod. After Herod's death it was safe to return, but not to Judea. Matthew 2: 19-23.

Consequently, Mary and Joseph came back to live in Nazareth. Scripture gives an indication that Jesus was well received by the people of Nazareth in these early years. Luke 2: 46-52. This changed dramatically when He began His public ministry, and the people of Nazareth rejected him on two occasions. Luke 4: 16-30,  Mark 6: 1-6.

After Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum.

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth is built over the remains of Byzantine and Crusader churches. It incorporates the cave in which Mary received the news from Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus.

Nazareth is the capital and largest city in the North District of Israel. It is the most important city for Israel's Arab citizens who make up the majority of Nazareth's population.

Papal Schedule in Nazareth

Thursday 14th May, 2009
10 a.m. Celebrate Mass on the Mount of Precipice in Nazareth.
3.50 p.m. meet the Israeli prime minister in the city's Franciscan convent
4.30 p.m. greet and address religious leaders of Galilee in the auditorium of the Basilica of the Annunciation
5.30 p.m. Vespers at Grotto of the Annunciation, with bishops, priests, religious, ecclesial movements and pastoral workers. [next map location: Jerusalem]

Other Map Locations at which to view Pope Benedict's visit to the Holy Land: