St. Gabriel's Church
The Church of St. Gabriel in Nazareth marks the location at which the Greek Orthodox Church believes the angel Gabriel told Mary about her impending birth of the son of God. Much like its Catholic counterpart at the Basilica of the Annunciation just a few miles away, this building is also connected with the well from which Mary took water in the Biblical tale.
Today, the Church of St. Gabriel features a prayer area decorated with hand-made carvings, a podium and painted religious symbols. The church’s bottom floor includes the “Chapel of the Spring,” a small room filled with a single row of seats and a variety of marble and ceramic decorations. Mary’s Spring can be found below the altar at one end of this chapel. Historical accounts and archaeological discoveries show a convent and a Byzantine bathhouse on the grounds surrounding Church of St. Gabriel.
The Church of St. Gabriel is open Monday through Saturday from 8am until 5pm. Visiting hours on Sunday are from 12pm until 2pm. Guests are asked to dress appropriately and speak quietly when visiting the Church of St. Gabriel in Nazareth.