Video from Drive Thru History
A Special Encounter in Nazareth
"While the current Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth (Basilica of the Annunciation) was built in 1969, its roots go way back to the 4th century when Emperor Constantine commissioned the construction of a church at this location. His mother, Helena, was traveling the area marking important locations in the life of Jesus. Here, she discovered a shrine in a cave that pilgrims treated as Mary’s childhood home. This is known as the “Grotto of the Annunciation” to this day. Constantine’s church existed until it was totally destroyed during the 7th century. Since that time, other churches were built and destroyed, until the version you see here today. Roman Catholic tradition holds that the Annunciation occurred in Mary’s home, which is marked by Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth (the Basilica of the Annunciation). Greek Orthodox tradition maintains that the encounter happened while Mary was drawing water from a local spring. This is the location marked by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth today." from video introduction.