Nazareth, Israel Occupied Palestine
Coordinates: 32.707215, 35.301475
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, also known as the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Gabriel, is an Eastern Orthodox church in Nazareth, Israel.
It is built on the an underground spring, which according to Eastern Orthodox belief is where Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها was drawing water at the time of the Annunciation.
It is said that the annunciation took place while Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها was taking water from the spring.
In christian belief Annunciation is that time when Hz. Jibrael عليه اسلام appeared to Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها to announce her that she was going to become the mother of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام by divine intervention.
Water from the spring still runs inside the apse of the church and also fed the adjacent site of Mary’s Well, located 150 yards (140 m) away.
A note to make here that this church along with Mary’s well and Basilica of the Annunciation are three main location where it is said that Annunciation took place (according to christian beliefs).
Likely first established in Byzantine-era Palaestina Prima, it was rebuilt during the time of the Crusades, and again in the 18th century under the rule of Zahir al-Umar, the Arab governor of the Galilee.
Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها recieves news of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام according to Quran
Allah the Exalted revealed:
“And mention in the Book (the Qur’an, O Muhammad, the story of) Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: “Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah.” The angel said: “I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.” She said: “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?” He said: “So (it will be), your Lord said: “That is easy for Me (Allah): and (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allah).
(Ch. 19: 16-21)
Multiple Locations
There are 18 churches of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
The Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation is located over the cave that is believed to have been Bibi Maryam’s رضي الله عنها home.
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation is located over the spring where it is believed that Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها first heard the Hz. Jibrael’s عليه اسلام voice.
This spring, which is mentioned in the writings of pilgrims to Nazareth over the centuries, is also thought to be where the six-year-old Hz. Isa عليه اسلام was sent by his mother to fetch water.
The spring
The first church was built, probably in the 4th century, at the site of a spring that was the village of Nazareth’s only water supply.
The spring which forms the well is located in a grotto below the church.
Such natural sources of water were a vital part of every village, and the spring in Nazareth served as its local watering hole for approximately three thousand years.
The waters of the spring issue from a mountain known as Jabal as-Sikh and flow through an underground channel in the rock for 17 meters (56 ft) before emerging in the church.
As recently as the 20th century, they continued on underground from there for another 130 meters to emerge in the public fountain known as Mary’s Well.
Today’s Mary’s Well is a non-functioning reconstruction of the original that was built for Nazareth’s Millennium celebrations in 2000.
Know This
The main square in front of the Orthodox Church, which is a very beautiful and small church. In the square there are lots of restaurants that are all great.
Bring a bottle to get some water from the spring.
On leaving the church there is also a small museum and gift shop.
Note: Some of the information in this article comes from Christians sources.
