THE NEW TESTAMENT EVIDENCE IN 5 PARTS

The Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth was built in 1969 upon the ruins of a 1st century dwelling in Nazareth which is believed to be the home of the Virgin Mary.  This home is now called the Grotto of the Annunciation and is believed to be the place where the Angel Gabriel met her and announced to her that she was to be the mother of Jesus Christ.   Connected to the Grotto are stairs from a 4th century church which also venerated the site.  Above the site are ruins of Byzantine churches which were destroyed, then rebuilt in Crusader times, then destroyed again.   Early believers knew this as the place where Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived and grew up.   Within the grotto, there is an altar with the following inscription: Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est, which means “Here the Word was made flesh”.