ORTHODOX HOLY LAND
The Holy Monastery of St Anna is located along the road of the Via Dolorosa also known as Derech Sha’ar HaArayot near the entrance of Lions Gate, in the Old City of Jerusalem. In google maps it’s known as St Anne’s Church.
As the pilgrim walks into the main entrance, to the right is the church and straight ahead is a gated stair case which leads down to the first cave. The first cave is the birthplace of the Virgin Mary and down the stairs again is the home of Sts Joachim and Anna where they also fell asleep in the Lord.
The Monastery is generally open between 10am and Midday. The days are not confirmed and not consistent. It is best to continue to visit every morning until you find it open. It does not open at all in the afternoons.
Link to google maps: https://www.google.co.il/maps/place/St.+Anne's+Church,+Jerusalem/@31.7801416,35.2348196,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x69dd10e58740402a!8m2!3d31.7808972!4d35.2360947?hl=en
Click photo to see larger image and longer description:
ST ANNA MONASTERY - JERUSALEM
Entrance to the Monastery from the street. Above the door it states “Birth Place Virgin Mary”. If the doors are closed then the Monastery is not open and cannot be accessed:
Entrance to the Monastery from the street. Above the door it states “Birth Place Virgin Mary”. If the doors are closed then the Monastery is not open and cannot be accessed:
Entrance to the Monastery from the street. Above the door it states “Birth Place Virgin Mary”. If the doors are closed then the Monastery is not open and cannot be accessed:
The cage is sometimes locked. If the church is open, you may ask for the key.
This icon is located in the home of Sts Joachim and Anna. It shows the falling asleep in the Lord of the saints as it happened in their home.
Sign indicating which cave is the home of the Sts Joachim and Anna
This view is from outside of the cave before you walk in.
Sign indicating which cave is the birthplace of the Virgin Mary
