Church of St. Anne

According to Byzantine tradition the Church of St. Anne stands over the home of Sts. Anne, Joachim and Mary. It is a simple beautiful church, where everyone who comes sings, because the acoustics are marvelous.  As we entered Spanish pilgrims were singing Salve Regina. Those of us who knew it joined in. Later we sang Amazing Grace, a request from our Protestant brothers and sisters who are with us at Tantur.

A wonderful White Father named, Peter, welcomes pilgrims and eagerly told us about the beautiful statute of St. Anne and Mary.

Notice the scroll in Anne's hand. On it are written, in Latin, the first words of the Hebrew Shema.

"Hear Oh Israel, the Lord your God is one....you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you should, and with all you might.....You shall teach them thoroughly to your children."

And so St. Anne taught her daughter and her daughter taught her son, Jesus.

The beautiful face of Anne drew me in as I stood looking at her.  I remembered my Grandma and my niece both named Anna. This church is in the Muslim quarter and a respected sight for them as they too honor the Virgin Mary who is mentioned in the Quran 44 times.

St. Anne, Pray for Palestine, Pray for Israel, Pray for us.