Bethlehem & Region
As the birthplace of Christ, the charming town of Bethlehem has a sweeter meaning
to Christians than any other place on
earth. Its origins are lost in history . Being the birthplace of Christ has
thrust this small, rose-colored city onto a world
stage. Modern Bethlehem is a major tourist attraction with all the accompanying
commercialism that this implies. Bethlehem's real charm can be found in the
side streets away from the center and pilgrim sites. The town and souq are a
heady mix of ancient and modern, Muslim and Christian.
Basilica of the Nativity
When Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem, they could not find room in the Inn
and so Jesus was born in a cave that was
used as a stable. Above the cave was built a magnificent church -The Basilica
of the Nativity . The first Church was built in
the first half of the fourth century A.D. by the Byzantine Emperor. The present
church was built in 530 AD The entrance is low and narrow in order to protect
it from invaders and prevent them from entering on horseback.
Grotto of the Nativity
Two sets of stairs on either side of the altar in the Church of the Nativity
lead down into the Grotto, the site where Jesus was born. A fourteen pointed
silver star embedded in white marble marks the exact spot with the inscription:
Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est- Here Jesus Christ was born to
the Virgin Mary. Of the fifteen lamps burning around the recess, six belong
to the Greeks, 5 to the Armenians and four to the Latins.
Milk Grotto
The Milk Grotto is an irregular Grotto hollowed out of soft white rock. It is
venerated by Christians and even by Muslims. Tradition has it that Mary stayed
there for a short time with Jesus Christ when they were hiding from Herod's
soldiers. Some drops of her milk dropped, turning the rock white. The milk white
rock is famous for its healing powers for women who take a piece of the rock,
grind it and mix it with their drink while nursing. A Franciscan Chapel surrounds
the Grotto.
Rachel's Tomb
It is situated on the Jerusalem-Hebron road just before the road forks right
to Hebron, left to Bethlehem. The building marks the traditional Tomb of Rachel,
Jacob's wife. She died while she was giving birth to her son Benjamin. She was
buried on the way to Ephrata, Bethlehem. Jacob built a memorial over her grave
and it still marks Rachel's Tomb today. The present sanctuary and mosque of
Bilal were built during the Ottoman period.
David's wells
Biyar Daoud or David's Wells are three great cisterns excavated in the rock
to the northern part of Bethlehem. It is believed that the adjacent Church of
St. David is where the King is buried. The cisterns were discovered in 1895.
The church rested on a vast Necropolis composed of 18 Arcosolia with two to
six tombs each. The cemetery was Christian as proved by the
inscription.
Shepherds' Field
Shepherds' Field is one of the most sacred places to Christians. According to
tradition, the Angel appeared to the shepherds on this site and informed them
of Jesus' birth. The Roman Catholics and the Greek Orthodox each have their
own Shepherds' Field. The Roman Catholic site features a Franciscan Chapel designed
to resemble the shepherds' tent, while the Greek Orthodox site features a 5th
century church built over a cave. The nearby field of Ruth is traditionally
associated with the events of the Old Testament.
Herodion
The remains of the fortified palace Herod the Great built on a hill top 6 km
south east of Bethlehem dominate the countryside and offers a view of the Dead
Sea. A lavish and luxurious place in its day, a city of round walls and a fort
enclosing apartments, baths and a garden. The ruins of a large pool and extensive
administrative buildings are at the foot of the hill.
Solomon's Pool
Three km south of Bethlehem, a turn off to the east leads to three large reservoirs
and an Ottoman Fort. Partly excavated from rock and partly built, the huge reservoirs
collected spring and rain water and pumped it to Bethlehem and the AI-Haram
AI-Sharief in Jerusalem. Today the water is used only by locals. The site is
in process of being developed as an archaeological and national park.
Mar Elias Monastery
The Monastery stands like a fortress on a hill from which both Jerusalem and
Bethlehem can be seen. It was founded in the 6th century AD and was rebuilt
by the Emperor Manual Communes in 1160 AD Legend has it that the building stands
on the site where Elias rested on his flight from the Vengeance of Jezebel.
From the monastery, Bethlehem can be seen to the south, Herodion to the southeast
and sometimes the Dead Sea across the valley to the east.
St. Theodosius Monastery
St. Theodosius is about 12 km east of Bethlehem. This monastery was destroyed
during the Persian invasion. The building that stands today was constructed
by the Greek Orthodox Church and incorporates the remains of an old Crusader
building and is inhabited by a dozen Greek Orthodox monks. A white-walled cave
marks the place where the founder, St. Theodosius, is buried.
Mar Saba
It is a further six kilometers from St. Theodosius to the Greek Orthodox monastery
of Mar Saba. The immense and spectacular monastery , with its walls and towers,
is a thrilling shock when it suddenly comes into view in the midst of this desert
land. Built into the rock overlooking the Kidron Valley, Mar Saba represents
a way of life unchanged since the time of Constantine. The monastery of Mar
Saba is immense. It has 110 cells, although today it only houses ten monks.
Although Mar Saba is reputed to have had a long tradition of hospitality to
strangers, women have never been allowed to enter. This regulation persists
today, so women visitors must be satisfied with a glimpse of the chapel and
buildings from a nearby two-storey tower , the so-called Women's Tower.