Of all my world travels, this pilgrimage led by a Jesuit, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, of E.W.T.N. deepened my faith immensely. My camera battery died in the middle of the trip, and since they were on 220 current I was out of luck as they say.
The current church is a two-story building constructed in 1969 over the site of an earlier Byzantine -era and then Crusader -era church. Inside, the lower level contains the Grotto of the Annunciation, believed by many Christians to be the remains of the original childhood home of Mary. Under Roman Catholic canon law, the church enjoys the status of a minor basilica . [1] A historically significant site, considered sacred within some circles of Christianity, particularly Catholicism, the basilica attracts many Catholic, Anglican , and Eastern Orthodox Christian visitors every year.
The first shrine was probably built sometime in the middle of the 4th century, comprising an altar in the cave in which Mary had lived. A larger structure was commissioned by Emperor Constantine I , who had directed his mother, Saint Helena , to found churches commemorating important events in Jesus Christ's life. The Church of the Annunciation was founded around the same time as the Church of the Nativity (the birthplace) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the tomb). Some version of it was known to have still been in existence around 570 AD, but it was destroyed in the 7th century after the Muslim conquest of Palestine.
This reminds me of a fella we had on the pilgrimage who got carried away with an old heresy about Mary in Ephesus to the point where he became disruptive. Fr. Mitch had several episodes with him in front of our whole group and with much ado he finally silenced him.
After two weeks the group became well acquainted with one and other, and a handful of us are still connected. Several stopped by and visited with my wife and I on their trips south to Florida, so all in all we met lots of folks. In fact I got an email out of the blue several days ago from a school teacher in CN who just lost her spouse. That trip was 6 years ago and the first contact since the trip brought on this unexpected reaching out. Amazing!
Today is our adoration day 9-10 am, and we are starting our prep for the first Sunday of Lent group right after. This afternoon I will pull out and post some of the unusual PICS I was able to take.
Opinions please....
Gorgeous Charlie!
:~)
What a grand opportunity, visiting Israel!
Yes, and thanks Larry.
Of all my world travels, this pilgrimage led by a Jesuit, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, of E.W.T.N. deepened my faith immensely. My camera battery died in the middle of the trip, and since they were on 220 current I was out of luck as they say.
Fill me in, is this where an angel told Mary that she would be withchild?
Well now we are all blessed thanks to the 220 pictures you did get, and thank you.
~WIKI~
Ok, thank you.
Larry,
Greek Orthodox tradition holds that this event occurred while Mary was drawing water from a local spring in Nazareth, and the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation was erected at that alternate site.
This reminds me of a fella we had on the pilgrimage who got carried away with an old heresy about Mary in Ephesus to the point where he became disruptive. Fr. Mitch had several episodes with him in front of our whole group and with much ado he finally silenced him.
After two weeks the group became well acquainted with one and other, and a handful of us are still connected. Several stopped by and visited with my wife and I on their trips south to Florida, so all in all we met lots of folks. In fact I got an email out of the blue several days ago from a school teacher in CN who just lost her spouse. That trip was 6 years ago and the first contact since the trip brought on this unexpected reaching out. Amazing!
Today is our adoration day 9-10 am, and we are starting our prep for the first Sunday of Lent group right after. This afternoon I will pull out and post some of the unusual PICS I was able to take.