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points of interest
jenin landmarks

In the northern West Bank sits the Palestinian city of Jenin. It is a significant center for the neighboring communities and the administrative hub of the Jenin Governorate of the State of Palestine. About 40,000 individuals called Jenin home in 2007, compared to 10,000 who called the Jenin refugee camp home. The Palestinian National Authority is in charge of Jenin’s administration (as part of Area A of the West Bank).

Jenin is positioned at the base of the West Bank’s roughest hills, Jabal Nablus, and along the Jezreel Valley’s southern edge, Marj Ibn Amer, which the city overlooks. Its lowest points are 90 meters above sea level, while its highest point is around 250 meters above sea level.

The Sahl Arraba plain (also known as the Dothan Valley) is located directly southwest of Jenin, while the Marj Sanur valley is located farther south. Mount Gilboa is located around 1.5 kilometers east of Jenin (Jabal Faqqua). Jenin is located 51 kilometers southeast of Haifa, 42 kilometers north of Nablus, and 18 kilometers south of Afula.

Several significant settlements documented in ancient texts are connected to Jenin. It has also been known as “Ein Ganim,” “Beth Hagan,” “Ginah,” and “Ginae,” among other names, throughout history. Tell Jenin, said to be the city’s original settlement core, is situated in the middle of what is now Jenin’s commercial sector.

The location “Gina” or “Ginah” mentioned in the Amarna texts from the 14th century BCE has been identified as Jenin. It was a subordinate state of the Egyptian New Kingdom during the time. During the time of Pharaoh Akhenaten, the residents of Gina were successful in assassinating the warlord Labaya.

 

The Hebrew Bible refers to Jenin as being the same as Ein-Ganim, a Levite city that belonged to the Israelite Tribe of Issachar. Additionally, it has been linked to Beth-Haggan, which is referenced in 2 Kings in relation to Ahaziah’s escape from Jehu before he is wounded at Ibleam and ultimately dies at Megiddo. The name is written as “Gini” in the Book of Judith.

According to Josephus, a Roman-Jewish historian from the first century CE, “Ginae” was located on the broad plain, on Samaria’s northern border. Samaritans were the only people to dwell in Ginae during the Roman era (Hebrew). Galileans were inclined to go through their city on the yearly pilgrimages to Jerusalem.

Historic Byzantine ruins and mosaic

There may have been Christians in this location at least as far back as the third century, according to mosaics in the Latin convent. Another old gravestone has an inscription that looks to be in ancient Latin or Greek but is undated. Ancient Byzantine mosaics from the Church of St. Justinian were discovered in 1884 while building the Convent of the Rosary Sisters, which stands next to the Visitation Church. In 1883, the Latin Patriarchate was established there, and the Rosary Sisters followed in 1884.

NOVA Astronomical Foundation

Deir Ghazala village’s unique setting and its position in a plain area enable astronomical observation. In order to create an astronomy camp in the village for observation and to offer educational and awareness-raising courses to those interested from the region, a collaboration agreement was signed in 2019 between the village council and the Palestinian Astronomical Society (NOVA). The location was investigated and determined to be free of light and environmental contamination; as a result, it was selected as one of the best places for such activities.

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church

The St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church was built in the 1990s after being founded in 1874. All of the priests who served in the church are buried there, with the exception of Fr. Shakir Khoury, who was laid to rest in a tomb he constructed himself in the Virgin’s Hall courtyard.

The church of St. George

Saint George’s church is situated in the town of Burqin, 3 km west of Jenin. Because St. Helena, the mother of Roman emperor Constantine, constructed it during the Byzantine era, it is regarded as one of the oldest cathedrals in the entire globe. According to local legend, it is thought to be the fourth-oldest church in the entire globe.

Excavations show that the location was occupied over many historical eras. One of the most significant remnants of the earliest church is the Patriarchal throne, the only one constructed of stone in all of Palestine and dating to the fourth century CE. It is located above a Roman cistern where it is believed that Jesus performed the miracle of curing the lepers.

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church: The current structure, which houses the church and the Evangelical clinic, was constructed in 1993. The first church was constructed in 1911.

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