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Bethesda

Sunday, ‎December ‎22, ‎2013

Continued ....

Second Day of my Holy Land Trip, Palestine, Jerusalem (C)

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My Holy Land Trip

Garden inside the compound of Pool of Bethesda and St. Ann’s Church

St. Ann’s Church, Near by the Pool of Bethesda

St. Anna Church

This large and beautiful church is near the Lions gate, and adjacent to the site of the pools of Bethesda. It is one of the few surviving large structures from the Crusaders period.

This large and beautiful church is near the Lions gate, close to the north side of the temple mount, and adjacent to the site of the pools of Bethesda. It is one of the few surviving large structures from the 12th C Crusaders period. It was built over the ruins of a 5th C AD Byzantine church.

The church is dedicated to Anna and Joachim, who according to tradition lived here, and the site where their daughter, Virgin Mary, was born in a cave which is located under the basilica.

Inside St. Ann’s Basilica

Inside St. Ann’s Basilica

Inside St. Ann’s Basilica

The Church of St. Anna was constructed in the area of the Bethesda water reservoirs, which supplied water to the temple mount. The first pool was constructed during the first temple, based on a dam that collected water from the valley and directed it to the temple. During the 3rd C BC a second pool was constructed, which later was expanded and turned into a popular healing center.

Herod the Great constructed a new water system, making the two pools obsolete. In 44AD Herod Agrippa constructed a new wall, which blocked the water entirely, and so the pools were converted for other use. Until the 5th C the area was converted to a baths center, and a Roman temple was erected.

Pool of Bethesda

Ruins of twin pools in the north side of the old city, close to the Lions gate. These pools supplied water to the temple during the times of the first and second temple (until Herod). There are references in the old testament to the "upper pool", which may have been the name of the northern pool.

Adjacent to the pools were baths and a healing center. These baths are the site of the healing miracle of Jesus in the pools of the sheep market, which was also called "Bethesda".

Later,  a Byzantine basilica was built over parts of the pools. The Crusaders built a small chapel over its ruins, and later a larger Basilica nearby

Pool of Bethesda

Pool of Bethesda

Lion's Gate street near St. Ann’s Basilica,
near by the Pool of Bethesda

Lion's Gate street near St. Ann’s Basilica,
near by the Pool of Bethesda

Lion's Gate street near St. Ann’s Basilica,
near by the Pool of Bethesda

The Prison of Jesus, The Via Dolorosa street.

The Prison of Jesus, The Via Dolorosa street.

This street is the first section of the Via Dolorosa, looking towards Mount of Olives (seen in the far background). Mount of Olives is accessible through the Lions' (St. Stephen's) gate which is located at the edge of this road. Along the left side are the walls of the Franciscan monastery.

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