The Pool of Bethesda is located near the Lions Gate in the Islamic Quarter of Jerusalem. This site is associated with one of Christ’s miracles recounted in the New Testament, where Jesus healed a paralyzed man who couldn't descend into the pool for healing. In ancient times, the water of this pool was believed to possess medicinal properties, especially when it was stirred. It became a gathering place for the sick seeking healing.
After Emperor Hadrian's reign, the site of the pool was transformed into a center of idol worship. By the fifth century AD, it became a religious shrine, and a basilica-style church was erected there, dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Byzantine tradition. During the Crusader period, a new church was built atop the ruins of the Byzantine structure, dedicated to Saint Anne, which remains standing to this day.