St. Joseph's Church (Nazareth, Israel)
City:
Nazareth
State, Province, Region, or District:
Northern District, Galilee Region
Country:
Israel
Overview
St. Joseph's Church is a Franciscan Roman Catholic church in the Old City of Nazareth, modern-day Northern Israel. According to tradition, the church is built over the carpentry workshop of the Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary. So, it was here where Jesus learned the trade of a builder, which was passed on to Him from His earthly father, Joseph.
Geography & Location
Nazareth is about 15 miles (24 km.) southwest of the Sea of Galilee and about 23 miles (37 km.) inland from the Mediterranean Sea.
Biblical, Historical, & Archaeological Background Information
Nazareth had an estimated population of around 300 during the time of Christ. It was a small farming town where everyone knew each other.
Architecture
The church was built in the Romanesque Revival style.
Biblical & Historical References
Nazareth was the home of Joseph and Mary, and the place where the angel Gabriel was sent to announce to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Christ the Messiah (Luke 1:26-38).
Etymology
Joseph – The source of the name in Hebrew is Yosef, which means Yo (God) + Sef (add). Thus the name means “God shall add”. The Bible provides this meaning in the following Biblical reference: Genesis 30: 24: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
Places of Interest
The Church of St Joseph was built in 1914 on the remains of a Crusader church and over a cave system. The first mention of the site occurs in the work of a 17th-century Italian writer and Orientalist, Franciscus Quaresmius, who described it as “the house and workshop of Joseph”.