Traditional Site
Ein Karem
ayn KAH-rem · Modern Ein Karem, Jerusalem, Israel · 31.7681° N, 35.1622° E
A former village, now a Jerusalem neighborhood, traditionally identified since the Byzantine period as the birthplace of John the Baptist and hometown of his parents Elizabeth and Zechariah — venerated as the site of the Visitation, when the pregnant Mary visited Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56).
Archaeology
Excavations have uncovered a Second Temple-period ritual bath, first-century rock-cut chambers, Byzantine-era chapel remains beneath the modern Church of St. John the Baptist, and a Roman-era marble statue of Aphrodite. The identification of Ein Karem as Elizabeth's town rests on tradition dating to at least the 6th century rather than direct proof.
On a modern map
Further reading
Reflect
In Ein Karem, Mary and Elizabeth strengthened each other's improbable hopes — who does that for you?
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