Nazareth - The childhood home of Jesus

A town of restorations and ancient ruins. A town of hidden caves and stairways. A town of church bells. This is Nazareth, located in the heart of a valley, surrounded by mountains. Historical findings tell us that Nazareth, originally a small farming village, had some 200 households at the time of Jesus Christ. Since then, it has known as one of the holiest cities in the world.

Modern-day Nazareth is nestled in the center of the lower Galilee on hills which reach from 400 meters (1,300 ft.) above sea level. Nazareth is about 160 kilometers (100 mile) north of Jerusalem, 30 kilometers (19 mile) west from the Sea of Galilee and 46 kilometers (29 mile) east from Acer. It has a beautiful view on Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel, Mount Hermon and Jezreel valley.

Nazareth is the largest city in that area and it serves as the Arab capital in Galilee; 90% Arabs (Christians 30% and Muslims 60%) 10% non-Arabs.

Nazareth in the Bible

Nazareth became important only after the spread of Christianity. Nazareth, the small village in Galilee 2000 years ago, was with little significance of any kind, as implied by a Jewish scholar called Nathanael as he Said: ” Can anything of good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

Nazareth is mentioned 29 times in the New Testament and Christians are still referred to in as Nazarene - "נוצרי" /notsri/ (Hebrew) "ناصري" /naseri/ (Arabic) in Hebrew and Arabic clearly referring to the old village in which Jesus lived his childhood.

“And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23)