The sad happy day

Haifa, Israel

Hazy, Hi 80, Lo 60

Sirens Wailing

Ahead of Memorial Day events, IDF soldiers put flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers in Mount Herzl Military Cemetery, Jerusalem, April 30, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

8 p.m. - We are sitting in our comfy hotel room in Haifa. Memorial sirens are going off, around the city, the country; I can hear them through the open window. Traffic has stopped and people are standing at attention outside their cars. The siren is followed by the lighting of a memorial flame to the fallen at Jerusalem's Western Wall. There is a gathering near us; I can hear singing - solemn songs, group songs, solos, beautiful and haunting. It is a sad day in Israel - the Memorial Day for 23,544 fallen soldiers. In the next 24 hours all their names will be read in memoriam.

Tomorrow is Israel's Independent Day. There will be fireworks and parties in the streets. A happy day!

Map

 Nazareth

Haifa is on the Mediterranean Sea, almost directly west of Nazareth.

Basilica of the Annunciation - Nazareth

The Basilica of the Annunciation is on the right and consists of a Lower Basilica/Grotto, Upper Basilica and Cupola

The massive two-story basilica became the largest Christian church in the Middle East when it was completed in 1969. Here, it is believed, the archangel Gabriel told the young Mary, aged about 14, that she would become the mother of the Son of God. 

Mary & the Angel Gabriel

Entry is from the west.

Basilica of the Annunciation

 Biblical stories of Jesus' life adorn the Basilica door

Detail of door -  Mary, Joseph and Jesus flee to Egypt

Excavations Reveal Probable Home of the Virgin Mary

The first church on the site venerated as Mary’s home was built around 427. The Crusaders built a huge basilica on its ruins, but this too was destroyed when the Crusader kingdom fell in 1187. In 1620 the Franciscans managed to purchase the site, but it was a further 120 years before they were allowed to build a new church.

When that church was demolished to prepare for the modern basilica, extensive excavations took place. These revealed the remains of the ancient village of Nazareth with its silos, cisterns and other cave-dwellings.

The lower level of the Church of the Annunciation enshrines a sunken grotto that contains the traditional home of the Virgin Mary.

Entering the Lower Basilica/Grotto

This wonderful entrance reminded me of a manger with it's unusual wood design and non-parallel walls

Panorama of grotto. Mary's probably home is in the center. On the left (illuminated) is a sunken tub for baptism/Jewish ritual purification

Altar, lower Basilica

The plan of two churches, one above the other and interconnected, was conceived by the Italian architect Giovanni Muzio.

The Upper Basilica of the Ammunciation

The Cupola

The Virgin Mary

Around the walls of the upper church are colourful representations of the Virgin Mary in a variety of materials, presented by many countries. Each was beautiful! Wish I had room to put all on this page.

Vietnam

"Mother of God, Affectionate Mother and Queen of Creation, Pray for the People of ireland"

Translation is approximate