Church of Nativity

Church of Nativity
Bethlehem, Palestine

Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine I, built the first basilica on this site. It was built under the supervision of Bishop Makarios of Jerusalem, and was completed in 333 AD. It was destroyed in the Samaritan Revolt of 529 AD.

The current basilica was rebuilt in its present form in 565 AD by the Emperor Justinian I. When the Persians under Chosroes II invaded in 614, they unexpectedly did not destroy the structure. According to legend, their commander Shahrbaraz was moved by the mosaic depiction inside the church of the Three Magi wearing Persian clothing, and commanded that the building be spared. The Crusaders made further repairs and additions to the building during the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem with permission and help given by the Byzantine Emperor. Over the years, the compound has been expanded, and today it covers approximately 12,000 square meters.

The church is administered jointly by Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Apostolic authorities. All three traditions maintain monastic communities on the site.


Christmas Eve celebrations in Manger Square, December 2006
by Footballkickit, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:P1030271.JPG, and used under GNU Free Documentation License


The Church of Nativity comprises two churches with a crypt beneath - the Grotto of Nativity - where Jesus Christ is said to have been born.

The main Basilica of the Nativity is run by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The basilica is designed like a typical Roman basilica. It has five aisles formed by Corinthian columns and an apse in the eastern end, where the sanctuary is. The church features golden mosaics covering the side walls, which are now largely decayed. The basilica is entered through a very low door, called the "Door of Humility." The original Roman style floor has since been covered over. Nonetheless, a trap door in the modern floor allows for a portion of the original mosaic floor to be seen. The church also features a large gilded iconostasis, and a complex array of lamps throughout the entire building. The wooden rafters were donated by England's King Edward IV, who also donated lead to cover the roof. This lead was later taken by the Turks, who melted it down for ammunition to use in war against Venice. Stairways on either side of the Sanctuary lead down by winding stairs to the Grotto of Nativity.

The Church of St. Catherine, the Roman Catholic church, adjoins the Basilica of the Nativity. It was built in a more modern Gothic revival style, and has been further modernized according to the liturgical trends which followed the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (Vatican II). This is the church where the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem celebrates Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Certain customs still observed in this Midnight Mass predate Vatican II, but must be maintained because the "status quo" (the customs, rights and duties of the various church authorities that have custody of the Holy Places) was legally fixed by a firman in 1852, under the Ottoman Empire, that is still in force to this day.

The Grotto of the Nativity is an underground cave beneath the basilica. It enshrines the spot where Jesus is said to have been born. A 14-pointed silver star marks the exact spot set into the marble floor and surrounded by silver lamps. This altar is denominationally neutral, although it features primarily Armenian Apostolic influences. Another altar in the Grotto, which is maintained by the Roman Catholics, marks the site where traditionally Mary laid the newborn babe in the manger.

Numerous Chapels are found in the compound including the Chapel of Saint Joseph, commemorating the angel's appearance to Joseph, commanding him to flee to Egypt, as mentioned in Matthew 2:13, the Chapel of the Innocents, commemorating the children killed by Herod the Great, as mentioned in Matthew 2:16-18, and the Chapel of Saint Jerome, where traditionally he translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate).

Manger Square, a large paved courtyard in front of the Church, is the site where large crowds will gather on Christmas Eve to sing Christmas carols in anticipation of the midnight services.

Christmas Eve is celebrated at the Church of Nativity on different days of the year. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Armenian Apostolic Church follow the Julian Calendar liturgically, whereas the Roman Catholic Church follows the modern Gregorian Calendar. As a result, the Roman Catholic Exarch will celebrate the Nativity on December 25th while the Orthodox Church celebrates it on January 7.



The Altar of Nativity. The silver star marks the spot where tradition holds that the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ
by Nhojjohn, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity, and available in the public domain

Siege at the Church of Nativity

Violence broke out at the Church of Nativity between March and May of 2002. From March to April, the Israeli Defence Forces carried out "Operation Defensive Shield" in the West Bank. Bethlehem was in the line of fire in the effort to root out militants. On 1 April, 2002, Israeli tanks surrounded Bethlehem. Israeli military planes, tanks and troops entered the city, sparking worldwide criticism, due to the sensitive nature of the Bethlehem.

200 Palentinians - including militants - fled the Israeli forces and took refuge in the Church of Nativity. In the ensuing siege, nine Palestinians as well as the Chuch bell-ringer were killed. Many more were wounded. A monk was also killed by indirect fire. According to a Franciscan priest present inside the church "by choice" during the siege, "the gunmen kept their weapons with them at all times, and in the first days took candelabras, icons, candles and "anything that looked like gold." Some of the valuables were later returned. The Israeli Army left only after the full evacuation of the Church of the Nativity on May 22. At least one monk had been trapped in the basilica with the Palestinians.