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[[Image:Nazareth_ofold_1.jpg|right|"Old Nazareth"]]

[[Image:Nazareth_ofold_1.jpg|right|"Old Nazareth"|<center>"Old Nazareth"</center>]]

'''Nazareth''' (næzərəθ) (נָצְרַת), [[Standard Hebrew]] '''Náẓərat''', [[Tiberian Hebrew]] '''Nāṣəraṯ''', (الناصرة) '''an-Nāṣira''' or '''an-Naseriyye''' is the capital and largest [[Cities in Israel|city]] in the [[Northern District|Northern District of Israel]]. It also serves as an [[Arab]] capital for [[Israel]]'s [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab citizens]] who make up the vast majority of the population there.(Review of "Beyond the Basilica: Christians and Muslims in Nazareth"[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0377-919X(199621)25%3A3%3C103%3ATACOI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-H] In the [[New Testament]], the city is described as the childhood home of [[Jesus]], and as such is a center of [[Christianity|Christian]] [[pilgrimage]], with many shrines commemorating biblical associations.  

'''Nazareth''' (næzərəθ) (נָצְרַת), [[Standard Hebrew]] '''Náẓərat''', [[Tiberian Hebrew]] '''Nāṣəraṯ''', (الناصرة) '''an-Nāṣira''' or '''an-Naseriyye''' is the capital and largest [[Cities in Israel|city]] in the [[Northern District|Northern District of Israel]]. It also serves as an [[Arab]] capital for [[Israel]]'s [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab citizens]] who make up the vast majority of the population there.(Review of "Beyond the Basilica: Christians and Muslims in Nazareth"[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0377-919X(199621)25%3A3%3C103%3ATACOI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-H] In the [[New Testament]], the city is described as the childhood home of [[Jesus]], and as such is a center of [[Christianity|Christian]] [[pilgrimage]], with many shrines commemorating biblical associations.  

==Geography & population==

==Geography & population==

Modern-day Nazareth is nestled in a hollow plateau some 1,200 feet (350 m) above sea level, located between {{convert|1600|ft|m|sing=on}} high hills that form the most southerly points of the Lebanon mountain range.(Palestine: A Guide by Mariam Shahin, Interlink Books.p.171) It is about 25 km from the [[Sea of Galilee]] and about 9 km west from [[Mount Tabor]].

Modern-day Nazareth is nestled in a hollow plateau some 1,200 feet (350 m) above sea level, located between 1600 ft high hills that form the most southerly points of the Lebanon mountain range.(Palestine: A Guide by Mariam Shahin, Interlink Books.p.171) It is about 25 km from the [[Sea of Galilee]] and about 9 km west from [[Mount Tabor]].

According to the [[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]], Nazareth had a population of approximately 65,000 in 2005. The vast majority of its residents are [[Arab citizens of Israel]], 31.3% of whom are [[Palestinian Christians|Christian]]s and 68.7% of whom are [[Islam|Muslim]]s.[http://www.cbs.gov.il/publications/local_authorities2005/pdf/207_7300.pdf] Nazareth forms a [[metropolitan area]] with the Arab [[Local council (Israel)|local council]]s of [[Yafa an-Naseriyye]] to the south, [[Reineh]], [[Mashhad (Israel)|Mashhad]] and [[Kafr Kanna]] to the north, [[Iksal]] and the adjacent city of [[Nazareth Illit]] to the east which has a population of 40,000 [[Jew]]s and [[Elot]] to the west. Together, the Nazareth metropolis area has a population of approximately 185,000 of which over 145,000 are Arabs.[http://www.cbs.gov.il/population/new_2007/table3.pdf]Israeli localities with populations 1000+]

According to the [[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]], Nazareth had a population of approximately 65,000 in 2005. The vast majority of its residents are [[Arab citizens of Israel]], 31.3% of whom are [[Palestinian Christians|Christian]]s and 68.7% of whom are [[Islam|Muslim]]s.[http://www.cbs.gov.il/publications/local_authorities2005/pdf/207_7300.pdf] Nazareth forms a [[metropolitan area]] with the Arab [[Local council (Israel)|local council]]s of [[Yafa an-Naseriyye]] to the south, [[Reineh]], [[Mashhad (Israel)|Mashhad]] and [[Kafr Kanna]] to the north, [[Iksal]] and the adjacent city of [[Nazareth Illit]] to the east which has a population of 40,000 [[Jew]]s and [[Elot]] to the west. Together, the Nazareth metropolis area has a population of approximately 185,000 of which over 145,000 are Arabs.[http://www.cbs.gov.il/population/new_2007/table3.pdf]Israeli localities with populations 1000+]

==Religious shrines==

==Religious shrines==

Nazareth is home to many centuries old churches, most of which are located in the city's Old Market, ({{lang-ar|السوق القديمي}}, ''Il [[suq]] il-qadeemi)'').  

Nazareth is home to many centuries old churches, most of which are located in the city's Old Market, (السوق القديمي, ''Il [[suq]] il-qadeemi)'').  

* The [[Church of the Annunciation]] is the largest Christian church building in the Middle East. In [[Roman Catholic]] tradition, it marks the site where the Archangel [[Gabriel]] announced the future birth of [[Jesus]] to the [[Mary, Mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] (Luke 1:26-31).

* The [[Church of the Annunciation]] is the largest Christian church building in the Middle East. In [[Roman Catholic]] tradition, it marks the site where the Archangel [[Gabriel]] announced the future birth of [[Jesus]] to the [[Mary, Mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] (Luke 1:26-31).

Some historians have called the city's traditional association with the life of Jesus into question, suggesting instead that what was originally a title (Nazarene) was corrupted into the name of his hometown (alternately, Nazara or Nazaret or Nazareth). Alfred Loisy, for example, in ''The Birth of Christianity'' argues that ''Iesous Nazarene'' meant not "from Nazareth", but rather that his title was "[[Nazarene]]."

Some historians have called the city's traditional association with the life of Jesus into question, suggesting instead that what was originally a title (Nazarene) was corrupted into the name of his hometown (alternately, Nazara or Nazaret or Nazareth). Alfred Loisy, for example, in ''The Birth of Christianity'' argues that ''Iesous Nazarene'' meant not "from Nazareth", but rather that his title was "[[Nazarene]]."

*Alternatively, there is biblical indication that Nazarene was a mistranslation of Nazarite, a person who had taken a vow of holiness and was thus 'separated out' from the masses. Matt. 2:23 says of Iesous (Jesus), "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."  Not only is there no word translated ‘Nazarene’, as well as no reference to a city of 'Nazareth' in the Hebrew Scriptures, but reference bibles state that the prophecy cited in Matt. 2:23 is in reference to {{bibleverse|Judges||13:5}} concerning Samson's description as a Nazarite.

*Alternatively, there is biblical indication that Nazarene was a mistranslation of Nazarite, a person who had taken a vow of holiness and was thus 'separated out' from the masses. Matt. 2:23 says of Iesous (Jesus), "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."  Not only is there no word translated ‘Nazarene’, as well as no reference to a city of 'Nazareth' in the Hebrew Scriptures, but reference bibles state that the prophecy cited in Matt. 2:23 is in reference to Judges - 13:5 concerning Samson's description as a Nazarite.

Frank Zindler, managing editor of the American Atheist Press, has asserted that Nazareth did not exist in the first century. (Zindler, F. "Where Jesus Never Walked," ''American Atheist'', Winter 1996-97, pp. 33-42.[http://www.americanatheist.org/win96-7/T2/ozjesus.html]). His arguments include the following:

Frank Zindler, managing editor of the American Atheist Press, has asserted that Nazareth did not exist in the first century. (Zindler, F. "Where Jesus Never Walked," ''American Atheist'', Winter 1996-97, pp. 33-42.[http://www.americanatheist.org/win96-7/T2/ozjesus.html]). His arguments include the following: