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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.
Yet, it was here that the angel Gabriel appeared to a virgin called Mary, betrothed to a man named Joseph, to announce to her the coming of Messiah. Luke 1: 26-38. 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.
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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]
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Pope Benedict talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
in the Franciscan convent in Nazareth.
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Other Map Locations at which to view Pope Benedict's visit to the Holy Land:
| DATE |
See MAP LOCATION(s): |
| Fri 8th May |
Philadelphia (Amman) |
| Sat 9th May |
Mt Nebo, Amman |
| Sun 10th May |
Amman, Baptism in the Jordan |
| Mon 11th May |
Amman, Joppa (Tel Aviv), Jerusalem
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| Tue 12th May |
Jerusalem |
| Wed 13th May |
Bethlehem |
| Thu 14th May |
Nazareth |
| Fri 15th May |
Jerusalem, Joppa (Tel Aviv) |
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Interactive map
