About Church of St Anne

The Church of St Anne is a well-preserved 12^th century Crusader church, constructed over the traditional home of Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary. Within the church compounds is the Pool of Bethesda believed to be the site where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:1-15).

History of Church

This site was the location of a Roman-era pagan temple dedicated to the god of medicine. A Byzantine church was subsequently erected over the ruins of the temple and the pools in the 5^th century. St Anne’s Church was completed in 1138 to replace the previous basilica. Its crypt was the cave where the Crusaders believed Mary had been born. The church was turned into a Muslim theological school after the Muslim conquest in 1189. Eventually abandoned, the church fell into ruins and roof-deep in refuse until the Ottomans donated it to France in 1856 in gratitude for its support in the Crimean War against Russia. It was subsequently restored from the garbage heap to its original condition. It is managed by the French Order of the White Fathers.

Architecture of Church

The church is a superb example of Romanesque architecture. It stands within a walled courtyard that gives it a fortress-like appearance. Its acoustics, designed for Gregorian chant, are perfect for singing and music and spur visitors to burst into songs.