Bethlehem, PALESTINE

Checkpoint 300 (Border between Palestine and Israel)

Old Town

Church of Navitity

Location : Bethlehem, West Bank

Affiliation : (shared) Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic

Groundbreaking : 325

Completed : 565

*UNESCO World Heritage Site(Cultural Heritage, official name : Birthplace of Jesus, the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route), designated in 2012

The church was originally commissioned in 327 by Constantine the Great and his mother Helena over the site that was traditionally considered to be located over the cave that marks the Birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity site's original basilica was completed in 339 and destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the 6th century. A new basilica was built 565 by Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor, restoring the architectural tone of the original.

Main entrance, the door of humility

The door of humility

It was originally 3 meters high in Byzantine period, but the Crusaders reduced its size to prevent attackers from riding in on horseback. Later, either during the Mamluk or Ottoman periods, it was made even smaller, and we can still see the outline of the original 6th-century doorway and, within it, the Crusader-era arch.

This small door leads all visitors to bow down to be humble and reverent as they enter the building.

Morning mass

Birthplace of Jesus

This silver star, beneath the Altar in the Grotto of the Nativity, marks the traditional spot believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ by the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The star has 14 points on it and these represent the 14 generations of Jesus Christ from David.

(photo copyright@https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity#/media/File:Birthplace_of_Jesus.jpg)

Exit from the main hall, as small as main entrance

Church of Saint Catherine and its courtyard

It was dedicated in 1347 to St. Catherine of Alexandria and the last modification carried out in 2000

*texts sources : wikipedia, brochures on site, www.bethlehem.custodia.org

*more infos about church of nativity : http://www.haeunchurch.com/board_ljxq48/6514

Milk Grotto Street

Chapel of Milk Grotto

Location : Bethlehem, West Bank

Denomination : Catholic Church

Completed : 1872
Administraion : Province Custody of the Holy Land

The current Catholic chapel was built in 1872 on the site of a former Byzantine church from around the 5th century, of which only part of the mosaic floor remains.

White Cave

Christian tradition says is the place where the Holy Family found refuge for the baby Jesus during the "slaughter of the innocents", before they could flee to Egypt. The name is derived from the story that a "drop of milk" of the Virgin Mary fell on the floor of the cave and changed its colour to white. The space, which contains three different caves, is visited by some pilgrims in hope of healing infertile couples.