A photo of the Church of St. John the Baptist. The picturesque little village of Ein Karem lies 6 miles southwest of Jerusalem, and it was the birthplace of St. John the Baptist. The Church of St. John the Baptist, which was built over the grotto of St. John's birthplace, was built in the 17th century. This village has long been identified with the "city in the hill country of Judea" to which Mary went to visit her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth (Lk 1).