Nazareth celebrated the feast of the Annunciation, an important liturgical moment commemorating Mary's ‘yes’ to God's plan for her: to be the Mother of the Savior.
City of Nazareth: place of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. The meeting of the angel and the Virgin Mary took place in this cave, which was the house in which Mary lived with her parents.
Here the angel brought her the news that she would be the Mother of the Saviour .... and Mary gave the answer that marked the beginning of the history of salvation, even though she cold not understand everything.
The celebrations were held on April 2 and 3 in Nazareth, in the Basilica, the holy place which preserves the memory of the angel's visit to Mary.
On Saturday, the traditional solemn entry into the Basilica of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem was accompanied by the Franciscans and the representatives of other Christian churches. The prayers of Vespers were recited in Arabic.
In the evening, after the torchlight procession, a traditional Marian procession with candles, a moment of adoration brought together those present around the altar. In the Word and in the Eucharist, the presence of Jesus, the Word of God, made flesh here.
On Sunday morning, the scouts gave a solemn tone to the most significant feast for the local Christians, fellow countrymen of the family of Nazareth.
LAHAM NASSAR
Christian woman - Nazareth
"I am proud to be from Nazareth, it is an honor to walk on the same ground on which Jesus walked. I am very happy and I would like to celebrate this feast every year in peace and health."
Fr. BRUNO VARRIANO, ofm
Rector and Guardian of the Basilica of the Annunciation
"We say that all Nazareth moves, because Christians are breathing through the lungs of the Church, the lungs of this shrine, because this place is the meaning of it all. Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, the center is here. Therefore, we, as Christians, as Franciscans who guard this sanctuary, get together every year with the universal Church to remember Mary's yes, the "yes" that opened the doors of mercy. Therefore it is great that this year, by the will of providence, the celebration took place on the Divine Mercy Sunday.”
The Eucharist was celebrated in the upper basilica, made even more beautiful by the presence of many Christians who came from various cities of the Holy Land.
H.B. Mons. FOUAD TWAL
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
"This feast unites everyone, not only Catholics, but all Christians of Galilee. It is their feast, it is their Church, they are his fellow citizens, they are all here."
SUHIER SROUJI
Christian woman - Nazareth
"Today we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation, but also the Feast of the Divine Mercy. We want mercy to reach everyone, not just here in Nazareth: may God grant His mercy to all people! "
As is customary during solemnities, the patriarch, the bishops and the guardian of the basilica greeted the faithful. In a festive atmosphere, they celebrated Mary’s ‘YES’ as well as the Incarnation of the Word of God, who became man here and who dwelt among us.
City of Nazareth: place of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. The meeting of the angel and the Virgin Mary took place in this cave, which was the house in which Mary lived with her parents.
Here the angel brought her the news that she would be the Mother of the Saviour .... and Mary gave the answer that marked the beginning of the history of salvation, even though she cold not understand everything.
The celebrations were held on April 2 and 3 in Nazareth, in the Basilica, the holy place which preserves the memory of the angel's visit to Mary.
On Saturday, the traditional solemn entry into the Basilica of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem was accompanied by the Franciscans and the representatives of other Christian churches. The prayers of Vespers were recited in Arabic.
In the evening, after the torchlight procession, a traditional Marian procession with candles, a moment of adoration brought together those present around the altar. In the Word and in the Eucharist, the presence of Jesus, the Word of God, made flesh here.
On Sunday morning, the scouts gave a solemn tone to the most significant feast for the local Christians, fellow countrymen of the family of Nazareth.
LAHAM NASSAR
Christian woman - Nazareth
"I am proud to be from Nazareth, it is an honor to walk on the same ground on which Jesus walked. I am very happy and I would like to celebrate this feast every year in peace and health."
Fr. BRUNO VARRIANO, ofm
Rector and Guardian of the Basilica of the Annunciation
"We say that all Nazareth moves, because Christians are breathing through the lungs of the Church, the lungs of this shrine, because this place is the meaning of it all. Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, the center is here. Therefore, we, as Christians, as Franciscans who guard this sanctuary, get together every year with the universal Church to remember Mary's yes, the "yes" that opened the doors of mercy. Therefore it is great that this year, by the will of providence, the celebration took place on the Divine Mercy Sunday.”
The Eucharist was celebrated in the upper basilica, made even more beautiful by the presence of many Christians who came from various cities of the Holy Land.
H.B. Mons. FOUAD TWAL
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
"This feast unites everyone, not only Catholics, but all Christians of Galilee. It is their feast, it is their Church, they are his fellow citizens, they are all here."
SUHIER SROUJI
Christian woman - Nazareth
"Today we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation, but also the Feast of the Divine Mercy. We want mercy to reach everyone, not just here in Nazareth: may God grant His mercy to all people! "
As is customary during solemnities, the patriarch, the bishops and the guardian of the basilica greeted the faithful. In a festive atmosphere, they celebrated Mary’s ‘YES’ as well as the Incarnation of the Word of God, who became man here and who dwelt among us.