Bethlehem

Bethlehem - Beit Lahem in Arabic ("The house of Lahman - a Canaanite God") - is about 6 miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem is the home of the Nativity Church (Basilica of the Nativity), built above the cave where Jesus is said to have been born. Poor Bethlehem families used the region's rocky hollows as dwellings and stables making the 2nd century Christian tradition which places the nativity in a cave plausible, even though Western teachings mention the birth of Jesus in a manger.

The original sanctuary of Nativity Church was built in AD 323 by the Emperor Constantine, at the request of his mother, Saint Helen who supervised the work in AD 326. Nothing remains of the first building except the nave and its four rows of columns.

Southeast of the basilica, is the Milk Grotto, where according to tradition, the Holy Family stayed before fleeing to Egypt. The walls of this cave were reputed to possess the properties of making suckling easier. In the 19th Century, a church was built by the Franciscans over an older chapel located above the cave.

Shepherd's Fields

Nearby are the Shepherd's Fields , where it is believed the Shepherds of the Nativity came. Also in this location are ruins of a Byzantine monastery built on top of important military relics from the Herodion period. It is located in the town of Beit Sahour 1 mile east of Bethlehem. This is the site where the angel of the Lord appeared before the shepherds bringing them the good tidings of the birth of Jesus, joined with a multitude of heavenly hosts, who sang " Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, Peace among men".  

St. Saba

Built into the rock overlooking the Kidron Valley, 9 miles east of Bethlehem , this magnificent monastery is a spectacular sight when it first comes into view. It preserves a way of life unchanged since the time of Constantine, and maintains a tradition of not allowing women to enter. The monastery was founded by St. Saba (439- 532), the great monastic leader of the Byzantine period.

St. Elias

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.   

Mt. Herdion

 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. 

Tomb of Rachel

This small building marks the traditional Tomb of Rachel, Jacob's wife. It is considered holy to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The present sanctuary and mosque were built during the Ottoman period and are situated on the Jerusalem- Hebron Road near Bethlehem's northern entrance.  

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