Sepphoris

Sepphoris is the city in Israel where Ana grows up with her parents, Hadar and Matthias, and her aunt, Yaltha. The first section of the novel, and the year it follows, take place here. Ana's life in Sepphoris is defined by familial and religious restrictions. She must live by her parents’ rules and her faith's limiting customs. The only freedom she is afforded in Sepphoris is her writing practice.

When her parents betroth her to Nathaniel ben Hananiah, she fears she will never leave the city of her birth. After meeting and falling in love with Jesus in the hills behind Sepphoris, Ana becomes filled with even more longing. Once Nathaniel dies, and she and Jesus become betrothed, Ana is grateful to leave her childhood home for Nazareth.

Nazareth

Nazareth is the small village in Israel from which Jesus is from. Ana moves to Nazareth with Jesus after...