Nazareth - Images of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We know nothing about the physical appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so it is natural that, being the Mother of God who ‘continues to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ’ as Pope Paul VI put it, all nations see her as ‘Mother’ through their own eyes.

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth is built on what is believed to be the site of Mary’s house, where the angel Gabriel appeared to her. There has been an altar here from the third - some say fourth – century; certainly, there is no question that the site has been continually venerated since antiquity. The present building, the largest church in the Middle East, has a wonderful collection of mosaic images of Mary, presented to it by Christian communities from around the world.

 For example...

KOREA

CHINA

EGYPT

INDONESIA

ITALY

GREECE

POLAND

THAILAND

SINGAPORE

VIETNAM

UKRAINE

PHILIPPINES