Holy sites explained

Holy sites explained

Let this special pilgrimage to the Holy Land by a personal encounter with Jesus today (Jeremiah 29:13).

 

Nazareth

 

The Basilica of the Annunciation

In the lower church, we found the Byzantine grotto, which is the Grotto of the Annunciation - a holy chamber where the salutation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary took place.

The present Basilica was built in 1960-1969 the largest Christian sanctuary in the Middle East.

 

 

The Church of St. Joseph

This church is said by tradition to be the carpentry workshop of St. Joseph and another tradition said that is the home of the Holy Family, anyway a dwelling place where the Holy Family is venerated.

 

 

The spring of the Virgin Mary

Mary’s Well is the only water source from the medieval period within Nazareth and certain is the source that provided the Holy Family with water.

 

 

Church of St. Gabriel

Also called the “Orthodox Church of the Annunciation”  inside the Church it's a spring of water where it's believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary drew water when the angel Gabriel appeared to her according to the Orthodox tradition.

 

 

The Synagogue Church

The Synagogue located in the old market is believed to be the place where Jesus prayed and preached. The Synagogue currently belongs to the Greek Catholics Church; Next to the Synagogue, a Church was built in 1887.

 

 

Sepphoris

According to the early church tradition here is the place where the Virgin Mary was born and the place where her parents lived. A church is dedicated to St. Anne and Joachim. 

 

 

Cana 

This town is the place where Jesus in a Wedding performed his first miracle by turning water into wine. A second event took place here when Jesus healed the son of an Official.

 

 

Mount Tabor

The traditional site where the transfiguration of Jesus took place. The Basilica of the Transfiguration and a Franciscan Monastery are located on the top of the mountain. Nearby is a church dedicated to the prophet Elijah, the church of Elijah(Greek Orthodox).

 

 

Capernaum

Capernaum is a fishing village located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here is the place where Jesus lived during his ministry in Galilee according to the Gospel John 2:12.

 

The Church of the House of St. Peter 

An octagonal church built around the earlier dwelling place from the 1st century which is believed to be the house of St. Peter. 

 

 

Church of the twelve Apostles

This church is dedicated to the twelve apostles remembering the long stay of the Apostles and Jesus at Capernaum. 

 

 

Tabgha

The church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes

Place where we commemorate the first multiplication of the loaves and fishes and found beautiful, extensive and original mosaics, inclusive the most famous mosaic with the two fishes and a basket of bread loaves.  

 

 

Church of the Primacy of St. Peter

This Church commemorates Jesus's reinstatement of Peter, which is the position of preeminence attributed to St. Peter among the apostles. Here we remember the apparition of Jesus after His resurrection to His Apostles. The church contains a limestone rock which is venerated as “Mensa Christi”, according to tradition, this is where Jesus is said to have eaten bread and fish with the Apostles, the third time he appeared to them after his resurrection.

 

 

Mount of Beatitudes

Church of the Beatitudes

The hilltop is the traditional site of the Sermon of the Mount.

 

 

Magdala

Magdala was an ancient city north of Tiberias,  the birthplace and the home of Mary Magdalene, who was healed by Jesus and was witness to the resurrection.

 

 

Haifa

 

The Monastery of Stella Maris 

At the center of the main altar of the church is a statue of the Virgin Mary placed.

Underneath the altar is Elijah’s cave, where according to the old Testament the prophet lived for some time.

 

Monastery of the prophet Elijah (Deir al-Muhraka)

Here is the place where the challenge between the prophet of Baal and the prophet Elijah took place. The challenge was to see which deity could light a sacrifice by fire. The prophet Elijah then prayed and a fire fell and consumed all around the place of sacrifice.

 

Ein Karem

 

Church of St. John the Baptist

Inside the church is a cave where according to tradition was the birthplace of John the Baptist. This cave served later for baptism conducted by John the Baptist and his followers at the beginning of the first century.

 

Church of the Visitation

According to tradition, this is the place where Mother Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth when both were pregnant. At that moment the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped with joy and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

Jerusalem

The Church of St. Anne (Bethesda Pool)

It is the place dedicated to St. Anna and Joachim the parents of the Virgin Mary. They lived here according to tradition.

 

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

According to traditions the church contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: 

• The site where Jesus was crucified( the calvary or Golgotha)

• The empty tomb, where Jesus was buried and resurrected.

 

Church of St. Mark

This is the house of Mary, mother of John, called Mark the evangelist. A piece of the Holy Cross in which Jesus Christ was crucified and other relics are preserved in this monastery.

 

The Cenacle

Located on an upper floor of king David’s Tomb. The room of the Last Supper is where Jesus sat with his Apostles to commemorate the celebration of Jesus's final Passover meal. According to tradition, this is the room where He appeared to his apostles after his resurrection. Other events took place here too when the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost, the day of Pentecost.

 

The Dormition Abbey

This Church was built as a memorial to the Virgin Mary where according to tradition is the place where she felt asleep and was taken in body and soul to heaven.

 

The Via Dolorosa

This is the route that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and His crucifixion and burial.

The Via Dolorosa or way of the cross is marked by 14 stations and at each station is a chapel or marker that are dedicated to the encounters or events that took place in each one.

 

Bethlehem

 

The Basilica of the Nativity

Inside the church is the Grotto of the Nativity with a silver star on the floor which marks the exact place where it is believed Christ was born. 

 

The Milk Grotto

The grotto is located near the basilica of the nativity. This was the place used as a refuge by the Holy Family before they went to Egypt. There is a legend that tells,  that while the Virgin Mary was nursing Jesus a drop of milk fell into the ground and then the hole cave walls were turned white.

 

Jaffa- Tel Aviv

 

St. Peter’s Church

This church was built to remember the importance of this city to Christianity, where Saint Peter raised Tabitha and one of Jesus's disciples from the dead. Here is believed to be the place where Simon Tanner’s house stand, here St. Peter had a dream calling in which he was called to become a Christian missionary.