Church of Saint Anne & Pool of Bethesda
כנסיית סנטה אנה
The best-preserved Crusader church inside Lions' Gate, next to the Pool of Bethesda, where the Gospels say Jesus healed a paralysed man.
The Church of Saint Anne was built in the 12th century and is traditionally regarded as the home of Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. During the time of Saladin it was converted into a religious school, which saved it from destruction. It is the most complete Crusader building in the Old City. Its Romanesque stone interior has excellent acoustics, and pilgrim groups often sing here. In the courtyard, the remains of the Pool of Bethesda contain layers of a Roman temple, Byzantine structures and Crusader church ruins. The site is managed by the French White Fathers, and admission is about 10 to 20 shekels. It is located inside Lions' Gate, near the start of the Via Dolorosa.
Opening hours
Approx. 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 2:00–5:00 pm; closed Sun
Nearby sights
- Tomb of the Virgin Mary
- Rockefeller Archaeological Museum
- Dome of the Rock (Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif)
- Gethsemane & Church of All Nations
- Via Dolorosa
- Western Wall
- Damascus Gate
- Jewish Quarter & Cardo