Precious little has come down to us of the years Jesus spent in Nazareth, leading scholars to describe this time, practically Jesus’ whole life, as “the silent years.” It is thus all the more significant for Christian visitors here to find a place where the silence is broken – the Synagogue Church.

Tradition says this is the spot, one memorable Sabbath day, where Jesus stood to proclaim and preach the stirring words of Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:16-27) and where he endured an angry response (Luke 4:28-30). You’ll find the Synagogue Church just a few minutes walk into the Old Market.

Christians have been coming here at least since the sixth century, and in 1771 the Greek Catholics received it into their care. In this unadorned stone chamber beneath fine old barrel arches, a quiet enclave awaits where you can delve into this complex story that so dramatically reflects the reality of its time and place.

www.nazarethinfo.org