Church of St. Anne and the Pools of Bethesda

 The church of Saint Anne is the most well preserved Crusader church in all of Jerusalem. It was the only one not destroyed by the Muslim conquerors.  The church commemorates the location of the house of the parents of the Blessed Mother, Anne and Joachim, and the birthplace of Mary.   The church has amazing acoustics. We sang the Lourdes Hymn and the Salve Regina. (Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes).  The chapel underneath the church commemorates the birthplace of the Blessed Mother.  






An archaeological dig next to the church uncovered a first century pool used for ritual washings.  It is believed that here is the pool by which Jesus healed the man who was paralyzed for 38 years.  



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