Christian Pilgrimage Sites

The Melkite Catholic Church established a Tourist Project to bring people from other countries to the churches in the Holy Land. Then, the Melkite Catholic Church arranges for tourist groups to visit several Melkite parishes in the Holy Land.

Zababdeh lies on the ruins of a “Via Romana” ("Roman Way"), which was a Roman travel route during the time of Jesus Christ. Christians have lived in Zababdeh since at least the third century. In this area, there are possible the fifth century ruins.

1. Visitation

Zababdeh is believed to be the location where The Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Elizabeth met after the Annunciation. After the Annunciation, The Theotokos went to visit her cousin, Saint Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-56)

The Latin Catholic Church, Visitation, was built on the site believed to have been where The Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Elizabeth met after the Annunciation. The “Via Romana” between their homes went thru Zababdeh.

2. Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ cured the ten lepers

Burqin (Pirqeen) is believed to be the location where Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ cured the ten lepers. (Luke 17:11-19)

Within the cave over this well where the ten lepers were believed to be cured, St. George (Mar Giries) Church was built. This Church is the third or the fourth oldest known church in the world. Some people believe that construction of the church began under Emperor Saint Constantine and his mother, Saint Helena, in the 4th century. Now, the Church is used by the Greek Orthodox community.

3. Jacob’s (Jacoub's) Well

Nablus (Nablous) is believed to be the location where Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ met the Samarian woman and asked her for a drink of water. (John. 4:5-30). Some people believe that the well, from which the Samarian woman obtained the water, is the well used by Jacob (Jacoub).

Over this well, a church was built. Some people believe that construction of the church began under Emperor Saint Constantine and his mother, Saint Helena, in the 4th century. The church eventually became a Greek Orthodox Monastery.

4. Byzantine church

A Fourth Century Byzantine church is located in Zababdeh.

Secular Sites

1. Albobaria

A Roman Castle which is called Albobaria is located in Zababdeh.

Visitor Information

Please come and visit us. Please read the Visitor Information. Thank you.

Tour Groups

Since 2007, we have welcomed over one hundred American and European tourist groups. These visits have ranged from several hours to ten days.

Usually, during every month, two Swedish tourist groups visit for two to three hours. They hear a lecture from Abouna Firas Khoury Diab and eat lunch prepared by his family. St. George Church is one stop on an all day trip, which also includes what are believed to be 1. Jacob’s Well (John. 4:5-30) and 2. the well where the ten lepers were cured (Luke 17:11-19)

Additionally, The Piligrims of Ilbillin, http://www.pilgrimsofibillin.org/, are planning two tours that include an overnight visit to St. George Church in Zababdeh. One tour is Oct. – Nov. 2012 and the other tour is in Feb. 2013.

In 2011, besides the Swedish groups, St. Church George was visited by about other twenty tourist groups. About ten American groups and about ten European groups, including Germans and Austrians, visited.

In 2010, St. Church George was visited by about twenty tourist groups. About ten American groups and about ten European groups visited. Several European countries were represented, including Sweden, Germany, and Austria.

Two visitors placed videos of their visit on YouTube.

• Living Stones - the forgotten Palestinian Christians on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnMMMnhX558

On December 6, 2007, the first bus of tourist arrived. Abouna Firas Khoury Diab joined the group on the bus in Nablus (Nablous). The tourist group visited Jacob’s (Jacoub's) Well in Nablus. Additionally, in Burqin (Pirqeen), they visited the cave over this well where the ten lepers were believed to be cured. The Church over the well is now St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Then, they visited St. George Melkite Catholic Church in Zababdeh.

Housing

Tourists stay and eat at the College of Naim Khader for Agriculture within Zababdeh. This College is a five-minute drive from St. George Church. The daily room and board (food) cost is about US $50 per person. Then, the room and board (food) for seven days would be about US $350.

Future Tours

The Palestinian National Authority has a Tourist Ministry. Dr. Khuloud Daibes is the Tourism Minister. Dr. Daibes and Abouna Firas met in Dec. 2010. Dr. Daibes is working with Tourism Ministers in many countries to encourage people to visit the people and the sites within the Palestine National Authority. One country is Germany. Dr. Daibes has contacts with a German tourist company to bring people to visit the Palestine National Authority. Representatives of that company met with Abouna Firas in Zababdeh in Jan. 2011. The plan is that this German tourist company will bring tourists to visit Zababdeh.