The Catholic Church of the Visitation in the Jerusalem suburb of Ein Karem is named in honor of one of the most beautiful Gospel episodes - Mary visits Elizabeth.

Angel announcing Mary that she would conceive the Messiah, spoke about her cousin Elizabeth, "was called barren" and now bears a son. According to Luke the Evangelist, the Virgin immediately rushed "into the hill country, to a city of Judah" - where Elizabeth lived and her husband, the priest Zacharias. Surely Mary wanted not only to share incredible news, but also to help a middle-aged woman. Elizabeth had already sixth month was concealed from the people, avoiding apparently idle conversation.

The meeting was held two pregnant amazing. Young Mary greeted Elizabeth - you can imagine that she did it with respect. However, the older woman give her great honor. The Holy Spirit helped Elizabeth knew who she sees in front of him: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For when the voice of your greeting reached my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb "(Luke 1: 42-44). Infant leaped was the future John the Baptist.

Three months Mary lived in the "city of Judah." This was present Ein Karem. It is believed that the place where the house of Zacharias, found during excavations carried out in the IV century in Jerusalem, the holy Equal-Elena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Perhaps she and built the first church where there was a meeting of Mary and Elizabeth. Later, on the ruins of the Crusaders built a large two-story temple. He has come into disrepair when the Muslims when the Crusaders were expelled from the Holy Land.

In 1679 the building was bought Order of Franciscans. Reconstruction of the lower level of the temple began only in 1862. And in 1955 it ended with the final restoration of the church. They led the Italian Franciscan friar and the "architect of the Holy Land" Antonio Barluchchi, built and reconstructed many buildings here.

Barluchchi adorned the upper church painted ceiling in the Tuscan-style frescoes, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The frescoes in the lower church depict scenes from the New Testament, including the massacre of the innocents. Joseph and Mary, baby Jesus to save, then fled to Egypt, and the family left the house of Zechariah. Apocrypha say that Elizabeth and her son hid from Herod's soldiers in the rock of stone. The stone, which is stored in the Church of the Visitation, tradition holds thereby. Here you can see well from which, according to tradition, drinking, Zechariah, Elizabeth and John.

Mosaic on the facade shows Mary, hurrying to Elizabeth. Near the entrance - a group of sculptures depicting their meeting. And on the wall - plate with translations into forty-two languages, including Vietnamese and Swahili, the text "Magnificat» (Magnificat anima mea Dominum). This glorification of the Virgin Mary, to whom she said, when Elizabeth was recognized in her the Mother of God: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior ..." (Luke 1: 46-47).