St. George Church– Al-Khader
Nestled within the historic tapestry of Beit Jala stands a revered pilgrimage site dedicated to Saint George, known in Arabic as al-Khader. This hallowed place, first built in 1600 AD and later rebuilt in 1912, has long served as a testament to the town's deep-rooted religious heritage and the shared veneration of a common protector.
According to tradition, Saint George, a soldier-monk renowned for slaying the dragon, left his native Lydda and settled in this very village, which now bears his name. Both Muslims and Christians flock to the shrine annually during the saint's feast days, observed from May 5th to May 6th, to celebrate their shared protector and the diverse blessings attributed to him.
Saint George is revered not only as a soldier-saint, but also as the patron of farmers, travelers, and the mentally ill. It is said that in the past, those afflicted by mental illness were brought to the shrine's courtyard, where they were chained to a special ring in the walls, in the belief that the saint's intervention would deliver them from their afflictions.