Church of the Visitation Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Church of the Visitation (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Church of the Visitation
Exterior view
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Leadership	Franciscan Order
Location
Location	Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Palestine grid	1651/1302
Architecture
Architect(s)	Antonio Barluzzi
Completed	1955

Church of the Visitation

The Church of the Visitation is a Catholic church located in Ein Karem, Jerusalem. It honors a special visit that the Virgin Mary, Jesus' mother, made to her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist.

According to the Bible, Mary visited Elizabeth in the "hill country of Judea." This church is built on the spot where people believe this important meeting happened. It's also where tradition says Mary sang her famous song of praise, called the Magnificat. This song is one of the oldest hymns dedicated to Mary.

What Does Tradition Say?
Exploring the Past: Archaeology
What You See Today
Gallery
See also

What Does Tradition Say?

The Bible tells us that Mary visited Elizabeth in a "town in the hill country of Judea" (Luke 1:39). It doesn't give an exact address.

One old story says that Empress Helena of Constantinople built the first church in Ein Karem. She was the mother of Emperor Constantine I. She believed this was the home of Zechariah, John the Baptist's father.

Exploring the Past: Archaeology

Archaeologists have dug at this site to learn about its history. Bellarmino Bagatti led some of these digs in 1938.

Ancient Discoveries

Archaeologists found an old water system, called a cistern, in the courtyard. They also found parts of a very old chapel from the Byzantine period. Later churches were built right on top of these ancient remains.

The Time of the Crusaders

During the time of the Crusaders, Ein Karem became an important place for pilgrims. They believed different spots in the village were connected to John the Baptist's life. These included a cave, a hill, and the village's main water fountain.

The Crusaders built two main churches in Ein Karem. One of these was the first version of the Church of the Visitation. It was a two-story church built over the ancient ruins. It was dedicated to the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth.

Later Periods: Ayyubid and Mamluk Rule

After the Crusaders left the Holy Land, the church slowly fell apart. In the 14th century, Armenian monks cared for it for a while. But by 1480, a traveler named Felix Fabri described it as a ruin. He said it had broken altars and ruined vaults, with plants growing on the walls.

The Ottoman Era and Rebuilding

In 1679, the Franciscans bought the land where the ruined Crusader church stood. It took a long time, but in 1862, they started rebuilding the lower part of the church.

Modern Completion

In 1937, the Franciscans did more excavations. The design and building of the upper part of the church began in 1938. It was finished in 1955 by an Italian architect named Antonio Barluzzi.

Courtyard, with a statue showing Mary and Elizabeth meeting.

What You See Today

The Church of the Visitation has a beautiful courtyard, an interesting exterior, and two main church levels.

Courtyard and Outside Areas

In the courtyard, you'll see a statue of Mary and Elizabeth. On a wall, there are 42 ceramic tablets. Each tablet has the words of the Magnificat song written in a different language.

The front of the upper church has a stunning mosaic. It shows the scene of Mary visiting Elizabeth. Next to the church, there's a Crusader hall from the 12th century that is still in good shape.

The Lower Church

The lower church has a narrow, arched crypt. At the end of it is a well. Tradition says Elizabeth and baby John drank from this well. The well is connected to an ancient pipe. You can also see parts of the old church and some beautiful mosaic floors here.

Near the entrance to the crypt, there's a rock with a crack in it. This is called the "Rock of Concealment." The story says the mountain opened up here to hide Elizabeth and baby John from Herod's soldiers. This tradition comes from an old book called the Protoevangelium of James.

The inside walls of the lower church have frescoes, which are paintings done on wet plaster. These paintings show:

Zechariah at the altar.
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth hiding her son during the Massacre of the Innocents.

The Upper Church

The walls of the upper church are also decorated with frescoes. On the southern wall, there are five paintings:

The Council of Ephesus (431 AD), which declared Mary as the Mother of God.
Mary protecting Christians with her cloak.
The Wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine.
The Battle of Lepanto (1571), a naval battle where a Catholic fleet won against an Ottoman fleet. This victory was believed to be thanks to the Virgin Mary.
Duns Scotus defending the idea of the Immaculate Conception in Paris.

Behind the altar, a fresco shows Mary arriving in Judea. A Franciscan leader is presenting her with a model of the church.

Verses from the Magnificat are painted on the church columns. In the corners, you'll find paintings of the four main virtues. Around the windows, there are images of Christian writers who wrote about the Virgin Mary. The ceiling is painted in a style from 14th-century Tuscany.