Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Church of the Nativity
The first evidence of a cave here being
venerated as Christ's birthplace is in
the writings of St Justin Martyr around AD
160. In 326, the Roman emperor Constan-
tine ordered a church to be built and in
about 530 it was rebuilt by Justinian. The
Crusaders later redecorated the interior,
but much of the marble was looted in
Ottoman times. In 1852 shared custody
of the church was granted to the Roman Catholic,
Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches, the
Greeks caring for the Grotto of the Nativity.
Statue
of Mary
Plaza in front of the Church of the Nativity,
with the plain façade in the distance
Stairs to
main church
.
Grotto of the Nativity
The grotto is the church's
focal point. A silver star is
set in the floor over the
spot where Christ is said
to have been born.
St Catherine's
Church
(see p193)
Altar of the Adoration of
the Magi (Manger Altar)
Other gr
reached by th
steps, contain the
supposed tomb
and study of St
Jerome
(see p193).
Nave
The wide nave survives intact from
Justinian's time, although the roof
is 15th-century, with 19th-century
restorations. Fragments of high-
quality mosaics decorate the walls.
Statue of
St Jerome
Cloister of St Catherine's Church
Incorporating columns and capitals from the
12th-century Augustinian monastery that
previously stood here, this attractive, peaceful
cloister was rebuilt in Crusader style in 1948.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp261-2 and pp278-9
