Church of St. Anne and Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem

Jerusalem can well be known as a pilgrim's paradise. From the Jerusalem travel guide we come to know that the city is rich with historical churches, monuments, mosques and temples. They also make a part of sightseeing in Jerusalem as these buildings reflect the past history, mythologies and culture. Church of St. Anne and Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem is one of the most popular churches in Jerusalem.

From the Jerusalem travel guide you'll come to know that sixty meters inside the Lion's Gate, on your right, is a wooden doorway leading to a hidden garden enclave where you'll find the beautiful Church of St. Anne and pool of Bethesda. The church was erected during the first half of the twelfth century in honor of the birthplace of Anne, the mother of Mary. It beautifully blends traditional Romanesque features with the architectural principles followed at the time of the Crusades.

The Pool of Bethesda is situated very close to the Church of St. Anne, near the Lions Gate. The remains of a pool with two baths and five porches confirm the story told in the Gospel that says there was once a gate there called the Sheep Gate, near where a sheep market used to be held and the animals to be used for sacrifices were washed in the pool. Jerusalem inhabitants utilized a number of rain-water reservoirs during the Second Temple period, including the double pool called Bethesda. People having disabilities used linger by the Bethesda pool, for its waters were believed to have magical powers of curing. Indeed, it is said that an angel flew over the pools once every 24 hours; whoever happened to be inside the water at that time would be magically healed!

What first strikes the visitor to Church of St. Anne and pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem is its simplicity, both within the unadorned interior and on the clear clean lines of its facade. Yet there is also a sense of majesty, perhaps lent by the church's stark cross-vaulted ceilings and giant pillars. Church of St. Anne and pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem holds in itself a many a mysteries which have charmed and enchanted people since ages. Church of St. Anne and pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem is one of the most revered churches on earth and is a must -see in Jerusalem.