Church of the Visitation

The visiting church ( visitatio church also Magnificat Church) is one of the three major churches in En Kerem, a small town west of Jerusalem, and belongs to the Franciscans.

History

The church was built over the home and birthplace of John the Baptist, and thus to the place where Mary and Elizabeth met each other and Mary sang the Magnificat ( Lk 1.39 to 56 EU). The church has a natural grotto, which was already in the Byzantine period to a place of worship. 638 it was accepted as the site of the Annunciation and the Birth of John the Baptist in the Georgian calendar of festivals. During this time, the lower church was built. The Crusaders built over a large two-story church, but fell back after they leave. The Franciscans bought the place in 1679, and after nearly two centuries of waiting they got from Ottoman rule permission to rebuild the church: the lower church was restored in 1862, the upper church was built by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi 1939-1955.

Description

From the front of the church, you have a wonderful view over the town and the surrounding wooded hills.

Lower Church

The lower church is decorated with a number of paintings: one is the greeting of Mary by Elizabeth, another concealment of John the Baptist behind a stone against the minions at the infanticide in Bethlehem. In a side wall of the church a part of this stone can be seen.

Upper Church

The upper church was painted by Barluzzi in Tuscan style and depicts the Virgin Mary in their titles of honor: as Mother of God, Refuge of Sinners, giver of all grace, Help of Christians and Immaculate.

Forecourt

On the forecourt can be seen on the ceramic tiles on the wall opposite the lower church, the Magnificat in 42 languages.

Marie source

Below the slope of the Church is called Mary's Well (English Mary's Spring). She gave En Kerem also nicknamed source of the vineyard and should have been the place where Mary and Elizabeth met.