a little city in the tribe of Zebulun, in Lower Galilee, to the west of Tabor, and to the east of Ptolemais. Eusebius says, it is 15 miles from Legion towards the east. This city is much celebrated in the Scriptures, for having been the usual place of the residence of Jesus Christ for the first 33 years of his life, Luke ii. 51. It was there our Saviour became incarnate, where he lived in obedience to Joseph and Mary, and from whence he took the name of a Nazarean. After he had begun to execute his mission, he preached there sometimes in the synagogue, Id. iv. 16. But because his countrymen had no faith in him, and were offended at the meannesses of his original, he did not many miracles there, Matth. xiii. 54, 58; nor would he dwell therein; so he fixed his habitation at Capernaum for the latter part of his life, Id. iv. 13. The city of Nazareth was situated upon an eminence; and on one side there was a precipice, from whence the Nazareans one day had a design of throwing down our Saviour, because he upbraided them with their incredulity, Luke iv. 29.

St Epiphanius says, that in his time Nazareth was only a village, and that to the reign of Constantine it was inhabited by Jews alone, exclusive of all Christians. Adamnanus, a writer of the seventh age, says, that in his time there were two great churches to be seen at Nazareth, one in the midst of the city, built upon two arches, in the place where our Saviour’s house had stood. Under the two arches now mentioned, was a very fine fountain, which furnished water to the whole city, and from whence water was drawn also by the help of a pulley for the use of the church above. The second church of Nazareth was built in a place where the house stood wherein the angel Gabriel revealed to the virgin Mary the mystery of our Lord’s incarnation; and we are assured that the church of Incarnation, which is supported by two arches, is still in being to Nazareth, this day. Mr Maundrell tells us, that there is a convent built over what is said to be the place of annunciation; for the chamber where the received the angel's salutation was about 500 years ago removed from Nazareth, and, according to the Roman legends, transported by angels to Loreto, then a small village in the pope's dominions, now become a bishop's see.—However, Calmet's opinion (which is certainly the true one) upon the different translations of this famous house of Loreto, is, that they were no other than so many different buildings made upon the model of the church of Nazareth, just as in several places sepulchres have been built upon the model of that at Jerusalem. Mariti tells us, that in the eastern part of the city stands the church dedicated to the Blest Virgin: the zeal of the Cenobites raised it from the ruins of that which had been destroyed by the Saracens. It is a very handsome building, and consists of three naves; in the middle of which is the principal altar; to which there is an ascent by two magnificent stairs, much admired for their iron balustrades, the work of an ingenious monk of the convent. The descent to the grotto or annunciation chapel below is by steps of beautiful marble, cut with great taste. Two beautiful columns of oriental granite strike the eye of the observer in the entrance. They appear to have been constructed both to support and ornament the grotto. The altar of this subterranean chapel is extremely elegant; and the different kinds of marble with which it is ornamented, receive an additional lustre from the combined light of several silver lamps presented by Christian princes. On solemn festivals, the walls and the pilasters are ornamented with various pieces of tapestry, representing the mysteries of the virgin; a superb present from the House of Austria. In the western part of the city stands a Christian church, built, as it is said, on the site of the ancient synagogue where Jesus showed the Jews the accomplishment of the prophecies in his person. This place served a long time as a shelter for flocks, but at present it is in good repair. In the neighbourhood may be seen a fountain of excellent water, which is, however, esteemed by the people on another account. They conjecture that it was contiguous to the habitation of the virgin, and that it was used by her. At some distance is a large stone of a round form, called Christ's Table. It is pretended that he came hither more than once with his disciples to eat. The inhabitants of Nazareth pay it a kind of worship, burning perfumes and incense around it. It is situated in 35° E. Long. and in 32° N. Lat.; and formerly held the third rank under the patriarch of Jerusalem. At present it is part of the domains of the chief of Acre. The ancient city, after the ravages of fanaticism, was reduced to a miserable hamlet, containing only a few Arab huts.—Under the protection of Daher Omar, however, it recovered very considerably, and is now of far more importance.