Burqin Church

Burqin Church

Burqin Church, also known as the Church of the Ten Lepers or Church of St. George, is a Greek Orthodox church in the West Bank town of Burqin. Perched on a hill overlooking the main road between Burqin and neighboring towns, it is considered one of the world's oldest churches. After Christianity became the official religion of the Byzantine Empire, Empress Helena ordered the construction of this church in a cave where it is believed Jesus healed ten lepers.

The church was expanded in the 6th and 9th centuries, with a stone wall added during the Crusader period. It was rebuilt again in the 18th century.

The church houses several rare artifacts, including a unique stone patriarch's chair from the 4th century AD, the only one of its kind in Palestine. It also features a 900-year-old baptismal font still used for baptizing children, located in the well area. The Holy of Holies, built from ancient stones in its original location, dates back over 900 years and contains a holy structure of Christ that is more than 250 years old. The roof of the well also has two carved holes, believed to have been used to drop food to the ten lepers during Christ's time.

In 2010, restoration work on the church revealed the bodies of three priests and a young child, determined to have died around 500 years ago. Later, two more bodies were found, and all five were buried in a grave adjacent to the church. Additional discoveries included an Arabic Bible, a wooden cross, Roman-era lamps, a Byzantine ring, and flasks containing sacred oil, along with medals for priests.