Mensa Christi Church (Nazareth, Israel)
City:
Nazareth
State, Province, Region, or District:
Northern District, Galilee Region
Country:
Israel
Overview
Mensa Christi is a Franciscan Roman Catholic church located in Nazareth, northern Israel. Mensa Christi (Latin for "table of Christ") contains a large rectangular block of limestone that, according to a Catholic tradition, served as a table when Jesus had a meal with his disciples in his hometown. The quoted passage is from Mark 16:14 where Jesus appears to the eleven remaining apostles after His resurrection and finds them reclining at the table and eating, and He scolds them for not believing those who had witnessed Him having returned from the dead.
Geography & Location
The church is located in a small alley (Road #6126), above the church district in the old city (market) of Nazareth. It can be accessed only by foot by a long walk down a steep road (#6139) from the Carmelite Convent, or above the Synagogue church (on Road #6126, past the Maronite church).
Biblical, Historical, & Archaeological Background Information
Pilgrims visited the site of the rock from the 17th century and left marks on this enormous rock. The Franciscans initially built a chapel at this site in the end of the 18th century. It was later rebuilt in 1861 and is the present structure.
Biblical & Historical References
Etymology
Mensa Christi – Latin for the table of Christ: Mensa is a table, and Christi is Christ.
Places of Interest
Entrance: