Up early (5.30) for breakfast and then down to Lions Gate to travel to Nazareth and Galilee. We stopped along the way for a coffee break and shared the space with some Israeli soldiers who were simply praying as they waited to move on.
Our first stop in Nazareth was at the Convent of the Religious of Nazareth who arrived her in 1855. Along the way via excavation they have found several things including the grave of a Righteous Man because several special things have been found including the things shown in the photos below.
A Byzantine arch and behind it a Crusader wall.
Below that is a Cave with skylight with a great deal of Byzantine mosaics with an altar under the skylight. Also, the skeleton found in sitting position - possibly a Bishop or someone in authority.
2nd Temple era graves found within the chapel space - effectively it is a cave town and known by the elderly as the mother of caves.
There is a great deal of excavation work being done at present and the remains of a 1st C CE house.
The building is surrounded by Byzantine wall with steps built by Crusaders but unfortunately no records remain. It is likely that a Judeao-Christian family lived here and relics found in the wall and a 1st C CE grave has been found - only one of about 8 in the whole country. It is similar to the grave where Jesus would have been buried. Discovered in 1900 and then excavated.
From the Convent we headed to the basilica and from the area before the Church we have a grand door. Within the Basilica there is also a crusader wall with the space.
Also we visited the place of the annunciation where we were able to stay for just a brief moment as there were large groups of tourists passing through.
Upstairs is the Basilica and in the spaces in which the extra altars (pre Vatican II) would have been placed are now the home of numerous 'paintings' of Mary.
The Basilica has a large dome above the sanctuary which is unusual in that it is like an inverted lily.
As I wandered round the Church I found the Australian contribution to the story of Mary but I didn't find any more information about the image other than it is of the Annunciation.
From there we went to the Chapel of the Little Brother of Jesus, the Community following the charism of Charles de Foucauld, where Antonio Tristan, a Mexican priest working in Kenya, celebrated Mass. It was a significant moment for us as Tasmanians, as well as being Mass celebrated in Nazareth, because as our Mass was ending the Mass for the Installation of our new Archbishop, Julian Porteous, was just commencing in St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart. The photo is of Antonio and Ghada, our guide.
After Lunch we then headed off to Sepphoris. When we arrived it was obvious that arrangements were being made for Sukkot which occurs on Thursday - almost the first thing we saw was the 'tent'.
We then headed off to the archeological site which contained a great deal of material from various era's. As the place is not mentioned in either the Hebrew or Christian Scriptures it was quite remarkable for the both Jewish and Byzantine era mosaics found onsite. Some photos are shown below
From there we headed to Lake Tiberias and Pilgerhaus where we are to stay for the next three nights as we explore the region of Galilee. If our first day is anything to go by the experience is going to be wonderful as we visit the sites of so many of the scenes of the Gospel and experience more of walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
Now bed
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