Zababdeh is a small argicultural town located in the Northern West Bank between Jenin and Nablus. Zababdeh is the only majority Christian city in the Northern West Bank.

Address for St. George Church

There is no street mailing address or Post Box Office mailing address for St. George Church (Mar Giries). St. George is the Catholic Church on the main road. Zababdeh is a small village with four Christian Churches: Melkite Catholic Church (Roum Catholic or L'Orphelinat Catholique), Latin Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox Church, and Anglican Church. Additionally, each of the four Christian Churches only has one pastor / minister. In the small village of Zababdeh, everyone knows where everyone lives so they think that there is no need for official street mailing addresses. However, without a street mailing address or Post Box Office mailing address, no mail can be send from other countries to Abouna Firas and St. George Church and visitors can not use a street mailing address to locate St. George Church. Then, to locate St. George Church, ask the people, “Where is Mar Giries, The Roum Catholic Church, L'Orphelinat Catholique, and / or Melkite Church located?” or “Where does Abouna Firas Khoury Diab live”.

The Priest's home is in a section of the St. George Church building

Abouna, his Khoureeyeh, and their children live in the priest residence, "The Convent", which is located in the same building as the Church and the Kindergarten. "The Convent" and The church have a connecting door between their adjoining wall plus the "The Convent" and The Kindergarten have a connecting door between their adjoining wall. (Now, a short history lesson. After this parish was established in the 1880’s, a residence for the priest was built. “Temporarily”, the “big room” of this residence became the Church until a Church was built. The Church has never been built and the “big room” of the residence is still the Church.)

Abouna Firas is the only employee of St. George Church. Then, he handles all Church matters.

Visiting or Staying in Zababdeh

If you wish to visit or stay in Zababdeh, you must reserve in advance. Please contact Abouna Firas Boutros Khoury Diab and please discuss with him the dates on which you want to travel to and from Zababdeh.

• E-mail: Abouna Firas Boutros Khoury Diab, cure_zab@yahoo.com
• Land telephone for the Church / Home: 2510894, from other countries including the U.S.: 011.970.4.2510894, from Jerusalem and Bethlehem: 04.2510894 (Code 970 is for Palestine National Authority and code 972 is for Israel. Both codes will work.)
• Cell / Mobile telephone for Abouna Firas: 0599789282, from other countries including the U.S.: 011.970.599789282, (do not dial the area code and the 0), from Jerusalem and Bethlehem: 0599789282 (Code 970 is for Palestine National Authority and code 972 is for Israel. Both codes will work.)

Please print several copies of the e-mail reservation / invitation for show to people. Representatives of the Israeli government may ask you to show a reservation / invitation from Abouna Firas before they will permit you to visit Zababdeh.

Visitors stay and eat at either of two places. The first place is a rented home, which is a five (5) minute walk from St. George Church and is owned by parish members. The second place is the College of Naim Khader for Agriculture in Zababdeh, which is a five (5) minute drive from St. George Church. For both places, 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. Volunteers are expected to pay for their travel expenses to and from Zababdeh and their living expenses while in Zababdeh.

Travel between Zababdeh and Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint

Abouna Firas will make arrangements for a shared taxi for you from the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint to Zababdeh and from Zababdeh to the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint. He will give you an estimated time when the shared taxi will pick you up and a description of the taxi driver. Please remember that is just an estimated time. The shared taxi is operated by a friend of Abouna Firas, who has the legal licenses to operate a shared taxi. The shared taxi travels to and from the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint every workday morning and evening.

From Zababdeh to the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint

The Shared taxi leaves Zababdeh about 6 - 6:30 am, usually arrives in Ramallah about 7:30 – 9 am, and usually arrives at the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint about 8:00 - 9:30 am. The cost of the shared taxi is about NIS 40. The Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint is about 20 minutes North of Jerusalem.

From the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint to Zababdeh

After you walk across the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint, you will meet the shared taxi driver. Because of road closures, checkpoints, etc., the time is very, very estimated. So, have a cell / mobile telephone with the two SIM cards used in Global System for Mobile Communications so that the taxi driver and you can communicate. (Use the appropriate SIM card within the corresponding area.) Then, both you and the driver know where each other currently is, when you expect to be at the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint, when you crossed the Checkpoint, where you are on the driver’s side of the Checkpoint, etc. The Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint is very large and busy. Then, it is difficult to find people.

Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint

You must walk across the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint because public transportation can not cross the Checkpoint.

Travel between the Kalandia (Culandia) Checkpoint and Damascus Gate in Jerusalem / Al Quds / The Holy One

This trip can be by private taxi, shared taxi, or #18 bus. The cost of the bus is about NIS 5.

Telephone System

In the Palestine National Authority, the probability of a connection to a cell / mobile telephone is much, much higher than the probability of a connection to a land telephone.

It is important to remember that not all cell / mobile telephones are compatible. They have different SIM cards used in Global System for Mobile Communications. Then, the cell / mobile telephones, which work in the United States of America and in Israel, will not work in the Palestinian National Authority. If you want to use a cell / mobile telephone in the Palestinian National Authority, please talk with your cell telephone provider about obtaining a cell phone with the proper SIM card, which will work in the Palestinian National Authority. Some cell phones contain one card. Some cell phones contain two SIM cards, one for United States of America and Israel, and one for the Palestinian National Authority. Within the Palestinian National Authority, you can purchase a prepaid minute telephone, such as a basic Nokia phone, with an “orange card”. Then, within the Palestinian National Authority, this cell telephone can make calls to and can receive calls from telephones within the Palestinian National Authority, Israel, and the United States of America. However, within the United States of America, this telephone can NOT make calls to and can receive calls to another telephone within the United States of America. When, the prepaid minutes become low, the person adds prepaid minutes. Then, the person goes to a shop, buys a $20 or $50 prepaid telephone card, scratches off the covered code, and dials the code in to the phone.

Usually, calls are more expensive from and to a cell / mobile telephone.

To use a land pay telephone, it is much better to use a prepaid telephone card, than to put money into the telephone. Some people think that it is best to purchase a prepaid telephone card when they arrive.

In case of an emergency, Abouna Firas’ cell / mobile telephone number is 0599789282 or 599789282.

Map in the Arabic Language

To see a map of this area in the Arabic Language, please click on the link. map This map can become larger or smaller. Please place the mouse curser on the lower right hand corner of the map. An orange square with a red band and four blue arrows from each corner appears. Please click that object.

Christian Pilgrimage Sites

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)

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

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

3. Jacob’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. (Jn. 4:5-30).

Candles, Embroidery Goods, Incense, Olive Oil, Olive Wood Goods, Olive Oil Soap Bars, and Sewn Goods for Donation

The members of St. George Church produce candles, embroidery goods, incense, olive oil, olive wood goods, olive oil soap bars, and sewn goods. These items are available for a donation. Please consider giving a donation for these items to support the members of this parish. Abouna Firas can show you these items. Please contact him for details. Please help. Thank you.

Prayer and Charity

In Zababdeh and the surrounding communities, unemployment and under employment is very high. Then, many people need food and money. The priest gives food and money everyone who asks. A donation to Abouna Firas for this purpose will enable people to eat, to have clothing, and to keep their homes. Please consider praying and donating so that the people of Zababdeh can survive. Donation Instructions. Thank you.