Jacob’s Well Church
Geographical Location and Borders
The building of the Monastery of Jacob's Well is located on the eastern side of Nablus, separated from the Balata refugee camp to the south by Balata Street. It is opposite the buildings of Balata village to the west, and the northern side of the industrial city of Nablus.
Religious Significance
The monastery has significant religious status due to its association with the spiritual heritage, according to Christian belief in the prophet Jacob and the story of Jesus Christ with the Samaritan woman. Due to this importance, the well and its surroundings gained special sanctity, leading to the establishment of a Byzantine church in the 4th century AD, one of the oldest churches at the time.
History
During the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, his mother Helena established several churches along the path of Jesus, including this one built around the well of Jacob. However, the church was later destroyed, first by a Samaritan revolt against Byzantine rule in 484 AD, and then rebuilt by Emperor Justinian around 529 AD.
The church was visited by many travelers during the Byzantine period, but was likely demolished by an earthquake in the late 7th century. In the Crusader period, a smaller church was built on the ruins of the Byzantine church, with the well located at the eastern end. Although the Crusader church was eventually destroyed, the well's cellar remained intact, and it continued to be a shrine for Christian pilgrims.
Modern History
In 1860, the Greek Patriarchate purchased the site of the church and surrounding lands, with the intent to rebuild the church. However, the construction was not completed due to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. In 1988, the current pastor, Father Justin, completed the building of the church and its facilities in its current form, and it remains an important tourist destination.