Basilica of the NativityyWhen
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 A.D. It looks like a fortress from
the exterior. The entrance is low and narrow in order to protect it from
invaders and prevent them from entering on horseback.
Opening hours: Mon - Sun 6:00 - 18:00 |
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Grotto of the Nativity
2 sets of stairs on either side
of the altar in the Church of the Nativity lead down into the Grotto, the
site where Jesus is said to have been born. A fourteen pointed silver star
embedded in white marble marks the exactspot 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.
Opening Hours: Mon -
Sun 6:00 - 18:00 |
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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 and it is said that women take a piece
of the rock, grind it and mix it with their drink while nursing. A Franciscan
Chapel surrounds the Grotto.
Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun 8:00 - 13:00 / 14:00
- 16:30 |
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Shepherds' Field
Located in the town of Beit Sahour
2 km east of Bethlehem, this is one of the most sacred places to Christians.
According to tradition, this is the site where the angel of the Lord
appeared before the shepherds bringing them the good tidings of the birth
of Jesus. 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 istraditionally associated with the events
of the old testament (recounted in the Book of Ruth 1:16).
Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun 8:00 - 11:30 /
14 - 17:00 |
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Masjid Bilal (Rachel's Tomb)
It is situated on the Jerusalem-Hebron
road just before the road forks right to Hebron, left to Bethlehem. The
little 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 the Ephrata, Bethlehem. Jacob
built a memorial over her grave and it still marks Rachel’s Tomb today.
The present sanctuary and mosque were built during the Ottoman period. |
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David's Wells
Biyar Daoud or David’s Wells are
three Great Cisterns excavated in the rock to the north of the town 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 ecropolis composed of 18 Arcosolia with two to
six tombs each. The cemetery was Christian as proved by the inscription.
Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun 8:00 - 17:00 |
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Solomon's Pool
3 km south of Bethlehem, a turn
off to the east leads to three large reservoirs and an Ottoman Fort. Partly
excavated from the rock and partly built,
the huge reservoirs collected spring and rain water and pumped it to Bethlehem
and the Haram in Jerusalem. Today the water is only used by the local inhabitants.
The site will be developed as an archaeological
and national park. |
| 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 offer views 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. |
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| 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 A.D. and was rebuilt by the Emperor Manual Communes
in 1160. 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.
Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun 8:00 - 11:00 /
13:30 - 17:00
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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 griddle of walls and towers, is a thrilling
shock when it suddenly comes into view in the midst of this desertland.
Built into the rock overlooking the Kidron River, 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. |
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St. Theodosius Monastery
St. Theodosius is about 12km east
of Bethlehem. This monastery wasdestroyed 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 Monks. A white-walled cave marks
the place where the founder, St.Theodosius, is buried.
Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun 8:00 - 12:00 / 13:00
- 7:00 |
* Artas
Located in a fertile valley
in the Judean Hills south of Bethlehem. The name Artas, is derived from
the Latin word Hortus. The ruinsinclude a crusader Convent,
the foundations of a crusader church, an Arab fortress as well as several
Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Crusader ruins. Artas has
a breathtaking view of the spectacular Convent of Hortus Conclusus (closed
garden), the surrounding hills and lush green
fields. |
*Beit Jala
This quaint town 2-km west of
Bethlehem is an old Canaanite city whose name in Aramaic means, 'grass
carpet'. It is the home of two theological seminaries
and several old churches and convents. The Church of St. Nicholas, with
its square tower and glittering dome, is the most
famous. The Salesian Monastery of Cremisan, housing a school and a library,
is reputed for its excellent wine.
Beit Jala is distinguished for
its first-rate olive oil. The town's pleasant weather and attractive scenery
make it a popular summer resort
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*Beit Sahur
This historic town, whose name
means 'shepherd's village', lies 1-km east of Bethlehem. In the past, the
Canaanites inhabited its numerous caves and today, it
is the home of many churches and convents. Shepherd's Field, Field of Ruth
and the Well of the Lady are all located in Beit
Sahour.
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* Al-Khader
It is a little town surrounded
by vineyards, fig and olive trees and marked by the Greek Orthodox monastery
of St George first established in 1600 AD, a popular
site of pilgrimage. Al-Khader or St. George is one of the saints who is
attributed with healing patients and protection; hence,
a sculpture of St. George killing the dragon decorates the facade of many
Christian houses in the area .
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PALESTINE 
