Annunciation token (BM 1973,0501.3)

Type: Portable Object
Tags: Angel Gabriel, Annunciation, C5th-C6th, Late Antique, Pilgrimage Object, Portable Object, Terracotta, Token, Virgin Mary, Wool & Basket

Annunciation token (BM 1973,0501.2)

Type: Portable Object
Tags: Angel Gabriel, Annunciation, C5th-C6th, Cross, Late Antique, Pilgrimage Object, Portable Object, Terracotta, Token, Virgin Mary, Wool & Basket

Annunciation token (BM 1973,0501.1)

Type: Portable Object
Tags: Angel Gabriel, Annunciation, Cross, Late Antique, Pilgrimage Object, Portable Object, Terracotta, Token, Virgin Mary, Wool & Basket

The Annunciation

The Annunciation was painted at the top of the triumphal arch with the Angel Gabriel north of the window, the Virgin Mary to the south and Christ Emmanuel in a mandorla above. Sadly most of this scene was stolen overnight in 1986 whilst volunteers were restoring the monastery.

Type: Painting
Tags: 1207/08, An Nabk, Angel, Annunciation, Chris, Church, Deir Mar Musa, Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi, Emmanuel, Fresco, Gabriel, Mar Musa al-Habashi, Monastery, Syria, Theft, Virgin Mary

View of the east end of the church

The original iconostasis was destroyed at some point between the 1960s and 1982 when restoration of the monastery commenced. The chancel screen has fragments believed to show the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins and the triumphal arch above the semi-dome has Christ amidst the Apostles with the Annunciation above it on either side of the window. Unfortunately most of the Annunciation scene was stolen by fresco thieves in the 1980s.

Type: Painting
Tags: 1207/08, An Nabk, Annunciation, Apostles, Chancel Screen, Church, Deir Mar Musa, Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi, Fresco, Iconostasis, Mar Musa al-Habashi, Monastery, Syria, Wise and Foolish Virgins

The Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth

In the mid-fourth century, a church was constructed around a grotto in the town of Nazareth that was said to be the Virgin Mary’s house and the place where the archangel Gabriel appeared to her during the Annunciation. This holy site was clearly well established as a place of worship towards the end of the fourth century as the pilgrim Egeria describes an altar within a grand and splendid grotto. The Piacenza pilgrim who journeyed to Nazareth in the late sixth century states that there is a basilica at the House of Mary that contains many garments that once belonged to the Virgin. Today, remnants of wall paintings, mosaics, and the architecture from this early church building are visible.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Annunciation, Architecture, C20th, C4th, C5th-C6th, Cave, Christ, Christian, Cross, Foliage, Fresco, Geometric Motif, Greek Inscription, Holy Site, Inscription, Israel, Mosaic, Nazareth, Pilgrimage, St. Gabriel, Staurogram, Virgin Mary