Mary's Well (Fountain of the Virgin) (Nazareth, Israel)

Overview

Mary's Well is about 1312 feet (400 meters) north of the Church of the Annunciation, just off the main street. Fed by the main freshwater spring in the little village, it would have been visited daily by Mary, often accompanied by her young son, Jesus. According to the Greek Orthodox, whose Church of St Gabriel is adjacent, this is the true site of the Annunciation. But both traditions can be accommodated by an account in the early Protoevangelium of James. This apocryphal document says the archangel Gabriel first approached Mary as she went to draw water at the well. Frightened by the stranger’s approach, the young girl ran back to her home. There the archangel appeared again and this time delivered his message.

The present water-trough structure is a reconstruction carried out in 2000. Water is piped from the spring, about 656 feet (200 meters) to the north. Water from the spring can be seen in St Gabriel’s Church, in a well-like structure in the crypt. The stonework dates from the time of the Crusaders, who also built a church on this site. St Gabriel’s, surrounded by a high wall, contains many interesting icons and frescoes.