Nazareth

Nazareth, the home of Jesus, anciently in the district of Galilee, 21 miles SE. of Acre, is still a small but flourishing town of Palestine. It lies in a hilly tract of country, and is built partly on the sides of some rocky ridges. In the earliest ages of Christianity Nazareth (which is not mentioned in the Old Testament) was quite overlooked by the church; the first Christian pilgrimage to it took place in the 6th century. The principal building is the Latin convent, on the supposed scene of the Annunciation; but the Greeks have also erected on another spot a church in commemoration. The traveller is also shown a Latin chapel, affirmed to be built over the 'workshop of Joseph'; the chapel of 'the Table of Christ' (Mensa Christi), a vaulted chamber, containing the veritable table at which our Lord and his disciples ate; and the synagogue out of which he was thrust by his townsmen. The Virgin's Well is just outside the town. 'The women of the village have long been famous for their beauty. Major Conder says they are more Italian than Arab in feature—owing possibly to admixture of European blood. Pop. (1891) 7500 (2870 Greek Catholics, 1310 Roman Catholics, 950 United Greeks, 1825 Mohammedans). There is here a Protestant mission and orphanage.