[1][clarification needed] The current church rests on the foundations of two earlier ones, that of a 4th-century Byzantine basilica, destroyed by an earthquake in 746, and of a small 12th-century Crusader chapel abandoned in 1345.

According to Dr. Leah and Dr. Rosario, Greek inscriptions were written on the church's floor as : "for the memory and repose of those who love Christ… accept the offering of your servants and give them remission of sins”.

According to Israel Antiquities Authority's Jerusalem district head Amit Re’em, the bath is notable, based on the archaeological evidence, as a later Christian pilgrimage site that was in fact used in the days of Jesus.

The coat-of-arms of twelve of the countries from which donations originated are incorporated into the ceiling, each in a separate, small dome, and also into the interior mosaics.

Alabaster panels dyed violet were used for the windows to evoke a mood of depression analogous to Christ's agony, and the ceiling is painted a deep blue to simulate a night sky.

The church was designed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi and is currently held in trust by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.