Contact: Susan M. Zahn, WDC Media PR, 877-862-3600, 530-963-3496, SusanZahn@wdcmedia.com, Office@wdcmedia.com

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world leader in faith-based and family friendly television programming has confirmed that the critically acclaimed six-hour mini-series "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977) which chronicles the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus based on the accounts given in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John will begin airing this Sunday, at 7:00 PM PST on TBN.  (See program schedule below or visit www.tbn.org/index.php/2/4/p/1029.html)

The epic all-star cast of "Jesus of Nazareth" includes: Anne Bancroft, Laurence Olivier, Michael York, James Mason, Rod Steiger, and Robert Powell as Jesus.

Directed by Franco Zeffirelli (OTELLO, HAMLET) the series was filmed on location in Italy and in the U.K.

TV Guide called "Jesus of Nazareth" "the best miniseries of all time" and "unparalleled television." 

Newsweek, writer Harry F. Waters wrote, "Rarely have the humanity and divinity of Christ been evoked with as much passion, sensitivity, and ecumenical deference as Zeffirelli has brought to the story."

A review in Variety reads: "Passion, beauty, and brilliant storytelling are all on display in this six-hour-plus epic from Italian director Franco Zeffirelli. Robert Powell is superb in the title role, and with the overwhelming success of this TV movie throughout the world, has perhaps become what Jesus looks like in many people's minds. The story begins with the arrangements of the wedding between Joseph and Mary, and chronicles the nativity, the encounter with John the Baptist (a ferocious Michael York) and everything up to the crucifixion and resurrection. This film is beautifully shot on actual locations, with haunting music by Maurice Jarre and an all-star cast, including Anne Bancroft, Laurence Olivier, Ian Holm, Ernest Borgnine, Peter Ustinov, James Mason, Anthony Quinn, Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer. Zeffirelli has created a thorough, but never dull or dogmatic, retelling of the story, and the result is a uniquely transcendental film that holds the power to inspire no matter what the viewer's beliefs or background."

TBN Program Schedule:

Special show times:

  7:00 PM         -           8:30 PM          

  8:30 PM         -           10:00 PM        

  7:00 PM         -           8:30 PM          

  7:00 PM         -           8:30 PM          

TBN is the world's largest religious network and America's most watched faith channel. Each day TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeals to people from a wide variety of denominations. TBN now reaches every major continent via 54 satellites, and more than 12,000 television and cable affiliates worldwide. In the United States, TBN is available to 92 percent of the total households. Its website receives more than 27 million visitors monthly. In addition to TBN, the network owns and operates seven networks, including: The Church Channel, JCTV youth network, TBN Enlace USA Spanish network, and Smile of a Child TV children's network. For more information on TBN, visit www.tbn.org. All TBN programs are subject to change without notice.