Pool of Bethesda – a vast, ancient ruins of the baths, known for one of the most moving gospel stories. Ruins are located close to Catholic Church of St. Anne, at the Lion's gate.

In biblical times, Jerusalem, located in a fairly arid area, well supplied with water. First city lake appeared in the VIII century BC To the temple mount water was supplied by a special aqueduct from the II century BC, Herod the great built a huge Pool of Israel (110 meters long, 38 wide). For grandiose works had a good reason: the water was necessary for the priests the Levites for the ritual washing of the sacrificial animals.

About the special role of pools in the life of Jerusalem tells the gospel of John: "now There is in Jerusalem by the Sheep gate a pool, called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water..." (Jn. 5:2-3). As the Scripture said, from time to time into the pool went the angel, "perturbing the water", and the first one who then plunged, recovered. With of Bethesda where Jesus performed the healing, struck His opponents, for it was the Sabbath, a sacred day of rest. Poolside lay relaxed, who was suffering from illness for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked – do you want to be healthy? The sick man answered: "Yes, Lord; but I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am coming, another steps down before me" (Jn 5:7). Then Jesus said, "Arise and walk", and the patient promptly recovered.

For a long time Bethesda Evangelical placed in different spots in Jerusalem, some experts believed even that the story is more metaphorical in nature, and no baths in ancient Jerusalem actually was not. But in the late nineteenth century German architect, archaeologist and Protestant pastor Conrad Schick found near the Church of St. Anne remains of a huge pool. His study began in the sixties of the last century.

With absolute certainty to say whether these excavations gospel of Bethesda, there and now: there are other hypotheses. But some features of the ruins correspond to the gospel text: archaeologists have discovered the remains of five porches, mentioned in Scripture, and a wide staircase leading to the pool could come down to bathe. What is impressive is the size of the construction: one hundred twenty to fifty meters. Surrounded by the columns of the pool is a monument to the genius engineers of antiquity: its depth is fifteen feet.

Whatever it was, the excavations of Bethesda confirmed: large swimming pools, around which could be a place for the "great crowd" of patients, in ancient Jerusalem were indeed.