The Catholic Church of St. Anne is located in the Muslim quarter, near the Lion's gate. Christian tradition says that here stood the house of the parents of the virgin Mary, righteous Joachim and Anna.

The Orthodox tradition indicates a different place of birth of the blessed virgin: seventy metres away, where is the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the virgin. However, the household of a wealthy family of Joachim and Anna was great, and it is possible that it seized the territory of both churches.

In the canonical Gospels do not describe the circumstances of the birth of the virgin. You can read about it in the Protevangelium of James, created in the II century. The righteous Joachim and Anna long had no children; not only around, but the wife took it as a sign of God's disfavor. However, Anna appeared the angel said that God had heard her prayers, she will give birth, and this child will be the talk of the world." Anna gave birth to a girl, which was to be the mother of Christ.

At the place, on which stands the Church, ancient history: in Roman times there was a pagan temple in the Byzantine period it was replaced by a Christian Basilica. The present building was erected by the crusaders during the reign of the legendary Queen Melisende between 1131 and 1138 for years. Unlike many Christian churches, the Church survived, when in 1187 Sultan Saladin captured Jerusalem. The conqueror placed in the madrasah. To the XV century, this Islamic school was one of the most famous and prestigious in Jerusalem. Gradually, the government allowed Christian pilgrims for a fee to visit the crypt, where, according to legend, was born of the virgin Mary. Over time, the building fell into disrepair, in 1856, Sultan Abdul-Majid I gave it to France in gratitude for the support of Turkey in the Crimean war.

The French have carefully restored the temple. The Church now belongs to the French government, supported by its White fathers (this small congregation, whose members wear white robes, leading missionary and educational work in Africa).

The Church building is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture. Above the gate was an inscription in Arabic script, reminiscent of the days when there was the madrasah. Three chapels separated by rows of tall columns with bases in the shape of a cross. Magnificent marble altar was painted by the French sculptor Philippe Kaeppelin, skillfully executed reliefs depict biblical scenes: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the descent from the cross. In the South chapel is a staircase leading to the crypt of the temple there is a cave, which tradition connects with the place of Nativity of the virgin.

High arches and perfect proportions of the building create amazing acoustics, the sound here is wonderful Gregorian chants. You can often hear how a group of pilgrims singing the Psalms.

The Church stands right next to the excavations of the pool – most likely, this is Bethesda, which, as says the gospel of John, Jesus healed a paralytic (Jn. 5:1-16). There are also ruins of a Byzantine Basilica and the remains of a Roman pagan temple.