Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For over a thousand years, a mosque has also stood on Nativity Square. Muslims con-
sider Jesus a major prophet and have a special reverence for Mary, who has a big role in
the Quran.
Today, the place where the Baby Jesus first entered the material world is marked by
the Church of the Nativity, established by St. Helena—mother of the Roman Emperor
Constantine—in 326. Inside, you feel the history. A steady stream of tourists and pilgrims
come here from all across Christendom to remember that first Christmas and to pray.
For too many, unfortunately, the word “Palestinian” raises an automatic association
with terrorism. Because of this fear, the typical Christian pilgrimage tour visits Bethlehem
as a side-trip from Israel. They zip through the wall into the West Bank, head directly to
Manger Square, visit the Church of the Nativity, and make a beeline back to safety in Is-
rael. These unfortunate travelers miss a lot and come home with only one narrative. This
means that pilgrims who visit the Holy Land to “walk where Jesus walked” seldom walk
with the people Jesus walked with. They rarely interact with Palestinian Christians.
The fact that not all Palestinians are Muslims surprises some. When meeting an Arab
Christian, many tourists ask when their family was converted. The answer is usually,
“About 2,000 years ago, back when Jesus' disciples were doing missionary work around
