City of Nazareth

Nazareth is the largest Palestinian Arab city inside Israel and one of the holiest Christian cities on earth. Nazareth, which began as a small Jewish village about 2,000 years ago, became a stronghold of Christianity in the Byzantine period, just a few hundred years later.

Jesus was raised in the humble village of Nazareth, and lived there until about 30 years of age. Capernaum became the center for his Galilean ministry. He passed through Samaria on occasion, and ministered in Perea. He was betrayed and crucified in Jerusalem.

Archaeological evidence in the region of Nazareth indicates that many people had moved there from Judea, from the area near Bethlehem. Joseph may have had friends or relatives in Nazareth.

Nazareth was the site of considerable fighting during the Crusades when it was actually destroyed by the Mamluk al-Zahir Baybars in 1263. In 166, the Ottoman sultan Ahmet I struck an agreement with King Henry IV of France allowing the stationing of consults in Ottoman cities.

Today Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel and has about 30 churches and monasteries, as well as mosques and ancient synagogues.
City of Nazareth