History of the Birthplace of Jesus
Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, venerated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus, became the first World Heritage site in the Palestinian Territories, on June 29th, 2012.
One of Christianity's most holy places, the site's focal point is the Grotto of the Nativity, a rectangular cavern beneath the church that has been considered the site of Christ's birth since at least the 2nd century.The Altar of the Nativity sits below a silver and gold chandelier. Stairways on either side of the main altar lead to a grotto. A fourteen-point silver star embedded in white marble indicates the birthplace of Christ. An inscription reads, Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est ("Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary"). Fifteen lamps burn around the spot. Nearby is the Chapel of the Manger, where Mary placed the baby Jesus. Like the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, various Christian denominations share control over different parts of the church. The grotto is under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church.
In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine founded a church on the site, which was destroyed in the year 529, only to be replaced by larger structures; which form the basis of the church today. Church of the Nativity is the oldest church in Israel/Palestine, and was reconstructed in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian (527CE-565CE) and further repaired by the Crusaders.
Sites:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/unesco-names-church-of-nativity-as-first-palestinian-world-heritage-site-1.447785http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/29/world/meast/palestinian-bethlehem-heritage-site/index.html?iref=allsearchhttp://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/the-church-of-the-nativity/
http://www.farsinet.com/christmas/nativity_church.html
One of Christianity's most holy places, the site's focal point is the Grotto of the Nativity, a rectangular cavern beneath the church that has been considered the site of Christ's birth since at least the 2nd century.The Altar of the Nativity sits below a silver and gold chandelier. Stairways on either side of the main altar lead to a grotto. A fourteen-point silver star embedded in white marble indicates the birthplace of Christ. An inscription reads, Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est ("Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary"). Fifteen lamps burn around the spot. Nearby is the Chapel of the Manger, where Mary placed the baby Jesus. Like the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, various Christian denominations share control over different parts of the church. The grotto is under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church.
In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine founded a church on the site, which was destroyed in the year 529, only to be replaced by larger structures; which form the basis of the church today. Church of the Nativity is the oldest church in Israel/Palestine, and was reconstructed in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian (527CE-565CE) and further repaired by the Crusaders.
Sites:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/unesco-names-church-of-nativity-as-first-palestinian-world-heritage-site-1.447785http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/29/world/meast/palestinian-bethlehem-heritage-site/index.html?iref=allsearchhttp://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/the-church-of-the-nativity/
http://www.farsinet.com/christmas/nativity_church.html