The Church of the Nativity in the heart of Bethlehem marks one of Christianity's most sacred sites - the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Church of the Nativity is the oldest church in the Holy Land still in use. It is located on Manger Square 5 miles from Jerusalem. The Church of the Nativity is built over a grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to the Lord Jesus. For centuries, the Church of the Nativity was one of the most fought over holy places. It was seized and defended by a succession of armies - including both Muslim and Crusader forces. It is now controlled jointly by three main Christian denominations - the Armenian Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Greek Orthodox Church. The "Grotto of the Nativity" contains the manger that is believed to be the place where the baby Jesus was laid after he was born. The grotto is encased in white marble and the site of His birth is marked by a 14-point star on a marble stone. The "Grotto of the Nativity" has been venerated by Christians ever since St Justin Martyr identified it as the site of Jesus' birth in the second century. In 333 A.D. the Emperor Constantine completed the basilica. The construction began in 326 AD, and with the aid of the locals' traditions who believed that the cave in which Jesus Christ was born, was located at the end of the village. The original structure was completely destroyed in the early 6th century. It was again rebuilt, in its present form, in 527-65 AD during the rule of Emperor Justinian. The main access to the basilica is by a very small entrance which you must stoop over to enter. It is called the "Door of Humility." It was said to have been made during the Ottoman era to prevent mounted horsemen from entering the basilica. The present Church was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian. In 529, the Samaritans revolted, and the Church of the Nativity was badly damaged. The Patriarch of Jerusalem sent St. Sabas to Justinian for help, and the architect sent by the Emperor demolished the church and built the current one.
The facade of the Church of the Nativity is encircled by the high walls of the three convents: the Franciscan on the northeast side, the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox, on the southeast side.
The Basilica is a rectangle 53.9m long, the nave is 26.2m wide. The Manger is situated on the north side of the Grotto, and opposite the Manger, an Alter is dedicated to the Wise Men who came to Bethlehem from the East bearing gifts to Baby Jesus. The Grotto is rectangular in shape: length is 12.3m, and the width is 3.15m.
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| Church of the Nativity On Manger Square | Entering The Door of Humility |
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| Entering The Door of Humility | Church of the Nativity Basilica |
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| Constantinian Mosaic Floor | Constantinian Mosaic Floor |
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| Church of the Nativity Basilica | Church of the Nativity Basilica |
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| Entering The Grotto of the Nativity | Entering The Grotto of the Nativity |
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| Grotto of the Nativity | Grotto of the Nativity |
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| Grotto of the Nativity | Back To Church of the Nativity On Manger Square |
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