Underneath the modern-day Church of Annunciation, archaeologists have excavated a Byzantine church with three aisles, a single projecting apse and a large atrium. The church was apparently destroyed during the Crusader period.
The church was built to commemorate the New Testament event of the angel Gabriel informing Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. According to Roman Catholic tradition, this occurred in a cave in Nazareth. Greek Orthodox Christians differ; they believe the annunciation took place at a spring in Nazareth.
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