Burqin Church
Encyclopedia
Burqin Church or St. George's Church (كنيسة القديس جاورجيوس) is a Byzantine
-era Orthodox Christian church in the Palestinian
West Bank
town of Burqin
. It is considered to be the fifth-oldest Christian holy place and the third-oldest church in the world. The church has been restored several times and is currently in use by the village's small Orthodox Christian community.
had passed through Burqin on his way to Jerusalem from Nazareth
and as he was passing by the village he heard cries for help from ten lepers who were isolated in quarantine. He encountered them and passed his hand on their faces and then they were immediately cured. Since this "miracle", the church became a station for many Christian pilgrims.
Excavations show that the church passed through 4 different historical periods. The first church was built during the Byzanine-era in the cave where the "miracle" took place. The cave appeared to be a Roman cistern, having an opening at the top and containing an altar. During the 6th-9th centuries it was gradually extended to the front of the cave. Afterwards the church was abandoned for unapparent reasons, but was renovated during the 12th century and enclosed by a stone wall. In the 13th century the church was used as a school. Today, it is composed of the leper cave and an 18th century-era hall and nave.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
-era Orthodox Christian church in the Palestinian
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
town of Burqin
Burqin
Burqin is a Palestinian town in the northern West Bank located 5 km west of Jenin. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, its population in 2006 was 7,900. The majority of Burqin's residents are Muslims, and 20 Christian families live in the town. The historical St...
. It is considered to be the fifth-oldest Christian holy place and the third-oldest church in the world. The church has been restored several times and is currently in use by the village's small Orthodox Christian community.
History
According to Christian tradition, JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
had passed through Burqin on his way to Jerusalem from Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
and as he was passing by the village he heard cries for help from ten lepers who were isolated in quarantine. He encountered them and passed his hand on their faces and then they were immediately cured. Since this "miracle", the church became a station for many Christian pilgrims.
Excavations show that the church passed through 4 different historical periods. The first church was built during the Byzanine-era in the cave where the "miracle" took place. The cave appeared to be a Roman cistern, having an opening at the top and containing an altar. During the 6th-9th centuries it was gradually extended to the front of the cave. Afterwards the church was abandoned for unapparent reasons, but was renovated during the 12th century and enclosed by a stone wall. In the 13th century the church was used as a school. Today, it is composed of the leper cave and an 18th century-era hall and nave.