Nazareth- Israel Pilgrimage- 2

The city of Nazareth. 

 Today Nazareth has two sections.

Upper Nazareth or Nazareth "Illit"

 is where the majority of Israel Jews reside.

Lower Nazareth is where the

 Israeli Christians and Muslims live.

Current population is about 70,000.

Nazareth is known as the Arab capital of Israel.

The population is made up 

predominantly of Arab citizens of Israel,

almost all of whom are either 

Muslim (69%) or Christian (30%).

In the New Testament, 

the city is described as the 

childhood home of Jesus.

Well known in the city of Nazareth is the

 Basilica of the Annunciation.

On our trip we chose to visit a smaller- less busy site.

The Church of the Archangel Gabriel

 sits less than a mile away from the Basilica.

It is a Greek Orthodox Church.

Beautifully decorated.

The church has a grotto where an ancient spring

 is located that would have been the likely spot

 where Jesus and his mom- Mary, came to draw water.

Nazareth is built on the hills.

The cross marks Nazareth too.

Nazareth- at the time of Jesus

 was an insignificant village of maybe 200 people.

No wonder people said-

"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

It was interesting to us that our tour guide

 told us that it is not uncommon

 for Israeli Jews to refer to 

Christians as Nazarenes- followers of Jesus-
 from Nazareth.

Sometimes we think we are known one way-

guess it is good to ask.