Nazareth: The Church
The large church would remind you of the Basilica in Minneapolis, but more modern.
What is interesting is this: The town of Nazareth in the first century A.D. (time of Jesus) was estimated to have a population between 100-200 people by historians and archeologists. From excavations, they know WHERE the old city was situated (i.e. where the downtown is today), as they have excavated much of what would have been first century housing back in those days. Buildings/houses tended to be stone-sided and some even cave-like structures cut into the side of the hills of the city. The old city would have taken up not much more that a few blocks in the downtown area.
The Church is built right on top of the ancient “village”, with the long front walkway of the plaza covering a number of these first century housing sites .
The large church would remind you of the Basilica in Minneapolis, but more modern.
What is interesting is this: The town of Nazareth in the first century A.D. (time of Jesus) was estimated to have a population between 100-200 people by historians and archeologists. From excavations, they know WHERE the old city was situated (i.e. where the downtown is today), as they have excavated much of what would have been first century housing back in those days. Buildings/houses tended to be stone-sided and some even cave-like structures cut into the side of the hills of the city. The old city would have taken up not much more that a few blocks in the downtown area.
The Church is built right on top of the ancient “village”, with the long front walkway of the plaza covering a number of these first century housing sites .
Of course no one knows where Jesus, Mary and Joseph actually lived. (No telephone books have been unearthed from those days.) But, it is extremely likely that it would have been right in this few blocks of this modern “downtown” area. It may have even been one of these old homes you are looking at here, directly below the church. Who knows?
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