Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity is a church in Bethlehem. It is one of the oldest churches in the world. It is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Jesus. It is considered very sacred to Christians and Muslims.
| Church of the Nativity | |
|---|---|
The interior of the Church of the Nativity circa 1936, photographed by Lewis Larsson | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | Bethlehem, West Bank |
| Geographic coordinates | 31°42′15.50″N 35°12′27.50″E / 31.7043056°N 35.2076389°ECoordinates: 31°42′15.50″N 35°12′27.50″E / 31.7043056°N 35.2076389°E |
| Affiliation | Shared: Greek Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, and Roman Catholic Church with minor Coptic Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox rights |
| Status | Active |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Byzantine (Constantine the Great and Justinian I) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 325 |
| Completed | 565 |
| Specifications | |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name: Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem | |
| Type: | Cultural Heritage |
| Criteria: | iv, vi |
| Designated: | 2012[1] |
| Reference #: | 1433 |
| State Party: | State of Palestine |
| Region: | Western Asia |
The main basilica is maintained by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Underneath the building is a cave or grotto. It is where Jesus is said to have been born. On Christmas Eve, crowds gather to sing Christmas carols outside the church in an area called Manger Square. The crowds also go to celebrate midnight mass at the Church of Saint Catherine, a Roman Catholic church next door to the basilica. It is performed by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The basilica has been reported to be not very well preserved.[2][3] The Palestinian government started restoring the buildings in 2010.[4] It was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in June 2012. It is the first World Heritage Site listed under Palestine. It was listed as being in danger.[5]
Church Of The Nativity Media
The basilica and grounds as they were depicted in a work published in 1487
The wooden Armenian door in the narthex of the Nativity Church, 1227
The Grotto of the Nativity, painted by Luigi Mayer, late 18th century
Northern steps to Grotto in the 1880s
Interior of the basilica in the 1930s
The front of the Church of the Nativity before 1941
Plan of the Church of the Nativity from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. (1) Narthex; (2) nave; (3) aisles. The Grotto of the Nativity is situated right underneath the chancel, with the silver star at its eastern end (top side of the plan). North is to the left.
Interior–northern aisles (left) and chancel (right)–before the latest renovations
The chancel with gilded iconostasis (2019)
Grotto of the Nativity, fourteen-point silver star under the main altar marking the traditional spot of Jesus' birth
References
- ↑ "Unesco, Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ↑ "CHURCH OF THE HOLY NATIVITY | World Monuments Fund". Wmf.org. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
- ↑ Kumar, Anugrah (28 November 2011). "Bethlehem's Nativity Church to Get Overdue Repairs". The Christian Post.
- ↑ "Topic Galleries". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22.[dead link]
- ↑ Lazaroff, Tovah (June 29, 2012). "UNESCO: Nativity Church heritage site in 'Palestine'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
Other websites
Media related to Church of the Nativity at Wikimedia Commons
