Welcome to the virtual geocache located at the Church of the Annunciation (Arabic: كنيسة البشارة, Hebrew: כנסיית הבשורה), one of the holiest places in Christianity.
The current church was built in 1969, replacing an earlier Crusader-era church that had been destroyed. The church is designed in a modern architectural style sometimes characterized as Italian Brutalism and is one of the largest churches in the Middle East. It has the status of a minor basilica.
The church is built on two levels, with the lower level containing the Grotto of the Annunciation, which is believed to be once the home of the Virgin Mary and the place where the angel Gabriel appeared to announce that she would give birth to Jesus Christ. The grotto is a small cave-like room with an altar and several icons depicting the Annunciation.
The upper level of the church features a large central dome, which is surrounded by smaller domes and stained glass windows. The main altar is situated beneath a beautiful central dome.
The Church of the Annunciation is an important pilgrimage site for Christians, attracting visitors from around the world who come to pay homage to the site where Mary received the message of the coming of the Messiah.
This church should not be confused with the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, also here in Nazareth, which was erected on another location where according to some traditions the Annunciation may have occurred.
Several popes have visited the site in the past and you can find signs commemorating their visits in the courtyard gallery.
The church also features mosaics from all around the world. These mosaics depict various scenes from the life of Jesus and Mary, showcasing the diverse interpretations and artistic styles of the different cultures of the countries who donated them. Most of the mosaics are located in the Courtyard gallery, but some are inside in the upper level.
The church is open to the public, and visitors are welcome. Opening times: 8:00 - 18:00
There are daily masses held in the church during which the grotto is temporarily closed for visitors. One particular mass takes place at noon.
To log this cache
Your task for this virtual geocache challenge is to take a photo in front of a mosaic from your home country, preferably with the country name visible.
The photo must also include one of the following:
- Yourself
- An identifying object
- An item with your geocaching name written on it
If you log this cache as part of a group, each of you must upload a photo that fulfills these requirements.
Note that some countries don't have mosaics here. If you're from one of these countries, you can take a photo with any of the following instead:
- Esperantos (for the language constructed in the 19th century to "foster harmony between people from different countries")
- If you're from Israel, you can use the Nazareth mosaic
Remember to respect the holiness of the site, and to be mindful of other visitors. Have fun, and happy geocaching!
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.