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Zababdeh![]() |
Local legend is that Mary and Elizabeth passed through this
town as they visited one another. Zababdeh is the only
majority Christian village in the northern West Bank, located seven
miles southeast of the city of Jenin. Two-thirds of Zababdeh's residents
are Christian, belonging to the villages' four churches. The founding of
the nearby Arab-American University
in 2000 has meant economic and demographic growth, adding 1,000 students
to the town's population of 3,000.
Arab American University of Jenin Latin Church of Visitation and Patriarchate School, Fr. Iyad Twal St. George's Orthodox Church, Fr. To'mie Daoud St. George's Melkite Church, Fr. Firas Khoury St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Fr. Fadi Diab now ministers at the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala. |
Nablus![]() |
A major urban center of the West Bank, Nablus has a population
of more than 100,000. Known for its sweets and olive oil soap, Nablus is
also home to An-Najah National University,
the largest university in the West Bank. 700 Christians live in Nablus,
known Biblically as Shechem, one of the cities of refuge. Here, Jacob is
believed to have dug a well (Genesis 33), and Joseph's remains were brought
back from Egypt to their final resting place. At Jacob's Well, Jesus spoke
with the Samaritan woman about the need for "living water" (John 4). Above
Nablus, on Mt. Gerizim, lives the modern remnant of the ancient Samaritans;
between Nablus and a community near Tel Aviv, they number just over 600.
St. Philip's Anglican Church, Fr. Hosam Na'oum St. Moses and St. Dimitrius Orthodox Churches, Fr. George 'Awad Latin Parish of Nablus, Fr. Jalil Awad Sisters of Charity Convent, Fr. Dominick Falioux Jacob's Well, Fr. Justinus St. John the Baptist Melkite Church, Fr. Yousef Sa'adeh An-Najah National University, Dr. Sami al-Kilani, Public Relations |
Jenin![]() |
Jenin is the central city of the northern region of the
West Bank. Its population is over 45,000, a third of whom reside in Jenin
Refugee Camp. There are approximately 200 Christians in Jenin, belonging
to various branches of the faith, but all worshiping at the city's one
church, the Roman Catholic parish. The church is served by Fr. Alphonse
along with members of the order of the Sisters of St. Anne.
Latin Parish of Jenin, Fr. Alphonse Salah |
Burqin![]() |
A mile to the West of Jenin sits the town of Burqin. Among
its 10,000 residents are 100 Christians, a community which links itself
historically to Christ's healing of Ten Lepers (Luke 17). The ancient church
contains the cave in which it is believed the lepers were quarantined.
Already a site of veneration, the cave was included in a church built by
Saint Helena in the 4th century AD. The church has been expanded several
times since then and still holds weekly worship services. In addition to
this historic Orthodox church, there is also a Roman Catholic parish.
St. George's Orthodox Church of the Ten Lepers, Fr. To'mie Daoud Latin Parish of the Redeemer, Fr. Alphonse Salah |
Tubas![]() |
Among Tubas' 16,000 residents is a small Christian community
of fifty-five, worshiping at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. A mere ten miles
from the major urban center of Nablus, Tubas has been cut off from that
city over the last three years due to Israeli military checkpoints
and closures. The town is mentioned in the Bible by the name Thebez
(Judges 9). Holy Trinity has an active parish council which recently constructed
a new church library and fellowship hall.
Holy
Trinity Orthodox Church, Fr.
To'mie Daoud
Parish Council President Usama al-Mashni |
| Located just inside the Green Line (the 1948 armistice line dividing Israel from the West Bank and Gaza), Jalame was once an important center for Palestinian-Israeli trade. Where was once a thriving market is now ruins and trenches, demolished to protect settlers as they travel past, and to make way for the Israeli Wall. The town's population of 1,500 includes fewer than one hundred Christians who are closely related to those in the village of Muqeible just on the other side of the Green Line. They are served by the Roman Catholic priest of Jenin, when he can pass through checkpoints to get there. |
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