Nativity, Religious

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The original structure was built by Bishop Makarios of Jerusalem at the direction of Constantine I of the Roman Empire following the First Council of Nicaea in 325. more...

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That structure was burnt down in the Samaritan revolt of 529.

It is administered by a coalition of Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox clerics. Tradition has it that the church was built over Jesus' birthplace, and it is held as sacred by followers of Christianity and Islam.

Layout

It is actually a combination of two churches, with a crypt, the Grotto of the Nativity, where Jesus is said to have been born:

The main section (the basilica) now being controlled by the Greek Orthodox. It is designed like a generic Roman basilica, with three aisles and an apse. It featured golden mosaics covering the side walls, now largely decayed, and a Roman style floor (since covered over). It also features a large iconostasis, and a complex array of lamps throughout the entire church.; The adjoining Roman Catholic church, which is done in a more modern Gothic revival style, and has since been further modernized according to the liturgical trends after Vatican II.; The underground cave, which features the altar over the place Jesus is said to have been born. The exact spot is marked by a hole in the middle of a silver star, surrounded by silver lamps. This altar is neutral although it features primarily Armenian Apostolic design.;

2002 Siege

From March to April 2002 the Israeli forces carried out “Operation Defensive Shield” in the West Bank. As a part of these large-scale military operations, Bethlehem was invaded in a declared effort ‘to root out militants’. On April 1 2002, Israeli tanks surrounded Bethlehem. The next day, Israeli military planes, tanks and troops entered the city. In early May, Bethlehem was the last West Bank city where the occupying forces were still present in the wake of “Operation Defensive Shield”.A large fire was started durring the siege. According to a PBS doccumentary, an IDF flare was responsible. Frontline The Isreli Army left only after the full evacuation of the Church of the Nativity, which was the scene of a stand-off between the Israeli army and a group of Palestinians who had taken refuge inside the Church.

Read more at Wikipedia.org