Who owned the house where the Annunciation took place?

[irishcolleen45]

I’ve been to the Holy Land twice and was told that St Ann Church in the old city of Jerusalem was the site of the Blessed Mother’s birth. Who owned the home where the Annunciation took place in Nazareth?

Thanks.

 

[1ke]

I’ve been to the Holy Land twice and was told that St Ann Church in the old city of Jerusalem was the site of the Blessed Mother’s birth.

According to pious tradition.

Who owned the home where the Annunciation took place in Nazareth?

We don’t know where the annunciation took place.

The basilica of the Annunciation is built over the spot Catholics claim based on pious tradition. The Orthodox also have a church of the Annunciation built over an alternate supposed spot of the Annunciation.

As to who owned the property-- we have no way to know that.

 

[Dovekin]

Joseph was afraid, and took her into his keeping. And Joseph said to Mary: Behold, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; and now I leave you in my house, and go away to build my buildings, and I shall come to you. The Lord will protect you.
Protoevangelium of James 9

This is the earliest answer, but it is several hundred years after the events. The story is that Mary’s parents gave her to the Temple atan early age. When she was old enough, they asked Joseph to take her, and he provided a home for her. At that home, an angel announced to Mary the coming of her son.

It is not very reliable, or they would tell the story at the churches of the Annunciation.

 

[De_Maria]

Definitely Mary’s.

After the Annunciation, Mary left in haste to visit Elisabeth and then:

Luke 1: 56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house .

Possibly, also St. Joseph’s. Since they were betrothed, and she was considered his wife, she may have already been living with him.

Matt 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

 

[irishcolleen45]

Thank you all.
I am familiar with Protoevangelium of James and the Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda. I was just wondering if any other info was available. Neither my pastor nor the tour guide (who’s been to the Holy Land over 80 times.) had an answer.

 

[Usagi]

I suppose it could have happened anywhere as Mary went about her day, but if we presume it happened at her residence, then…

… if she was living with her parents, Sts. Joachim and Anne, it would have been their property;

… if she was indeed living at the Temple, take your pick of God, the king, or the people as a whole as owners;

… if she was living under Joseph’s guardianship prior to their marriage, presumably the house was his or his family’s.

Since we don’t even have the site nailed down for sure, and Scripture leaves out that detail, we can’t say for sure. But those seem like reasonable inferences.

 

[Elf01]

… if she was indeed living at the Temple, take your pick of God, the king, or the people as a whole as owners;

Since Gabriel was sent to Nazereth, not Jerusalem, we can rule out the temple.

… if she was living under Joseph’s guardianship prior to their marriage, presumably the house was his or his family’s.

Matthew’s account of Joseph’s dream implies that Mary was not living with him at the time he found out she was pregnant.

I’m confident that we can rule out it being Joseph’s house for that reason. There could be a case made that take her as your wife meant continue building the maritial home so it’s possible that they were living in Joseph’s family home while he prepared a home for them. I think it’s weak though. I think it’s far more likely that Mary was living with her parents before the wedding.

 

[Dan_Defender]

IMO she was at her parents’ house at the time of the Annunciation.