More than 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was born in a cramped cave in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. Since then, the small settlement near Jerusalem has become a world center of attraction for pilgrims, tourists and researchers. About the city of Christ, historical facts, biblical events and modern shrines of Bethlehem - in our material.

History of the city of Bethlehem

The oldest archaeological artifacts found on the territory of modern Bethlehem belong to the Bronze Age (XVIII-XVII centuries BC). The city on the West Bank of the Jordan River has never been large, but is closely associated with a number of characters from biblical history and, of course, with Jesus Christ.

"Bethlehem" is translated from Hebrew as "House of Bread." The birth of the Savior in the city with this name is very symbolic: exegetes interpret the meaning of the words from the Lord’s Prayer “our daily bread” as “spiritual bread,” meaning the Body and Blood of Christ.

The archives of Tel Aviv preserve information that in 1350-1330 BC. e. Bethlehem was called Bit-Lami and was inhabited by Phoenicians. In the third millennium, the city's inhabitants built a pagan temple on a hill, now known as the Hill of the Nativity. Bethlehem is located less than 10 kilometers from Jerusalem. It was on this path that the wife of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob, Rachel, was buried.

The city of Bethlehem today

People and events

Rachel and her sister Leah were the daughters of Jacob's uncle Laban. Rachel was distinguished by her beauty and daring disposition. She argued with God more than once if events did not turn out the way she wanted. Leah was inferior to her sister in appearance, but was a kind, modest and meek girl. Jacob, who came to Laban to woo, chose Rachel as his wife, for which he was forced to serve his uncle for 7 whole years. By deception, Laban gave Leah away as his nephew. But Jacob could not come to terms with this, and took Rachel as his wife.

Jacob wooes Rachel

Rachel died on the way to Bethlehem while giving birth to her son. She was buried “by the road”, at the entrance to the city. The tomb of Jacob's wife has survived to this day and has become a center of pilgrimage for the Jews. There is an Arab cemetery next to Rachel's burial place, and the place is also revered by Muslims.

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah allegorically mentioned Rachel when talking about the events of the era of the Babylonian captivity:

(Jer. 31:15)

In the 6th century BC. the country of the Jews was subordinate to the Babylonian kingdom. After another uprising, King Nebuchadnezzar II decided to “behead” Judea: he executed a number of representatives of the nobility, captured the ruler of the country and forcibly brought a tenth of the Jewish population to Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah was also captured by the Babylonians, but was released. The city of Rama, about which the prophet speaks, is located north of Jerusalem on a hill. From its hills there was a view of deserted Judea. Rachel was remembered as the mother of all Jews, bitterly regretting their captivity.

The prophet’s words about Rachel’s “bitter weeping” were also recalled by the Evangelist Matthew in New Testament times. When King Herod learned of the birth of Jesus, he was afraid that the Child would claim his power. The Jewish ruler sent troops to Bethlehem with orders to kill all children under the age of 2 years. Joseph the Betrothed, the Blessed Mary and the Little Christ were able to escape, and 14,000 babies were brutally killed. In the Orthodox Church, innocently murdered children are honored as martyrs.

Icon “Rachel Weeping for Children”

Psalmist

Jesus Christ was a descendant of King David, known to Orthodox Christians as the creator of the collection of Divine hymns - the Psalter. David was also a native of Bethlehem.

Young David became famous among his people after the heroic victory of the Jews over the Philistines. The future Jewish king literally “passed by” the battlefield. In front of the Jewish troops, playing with weapons, walked a huge warrior named Goliath. Goliath challenged the strongest of the Jews to battle, but no one dared to fight him. The Philistine mocked the Jews and blasphemed God. This is what touched young David, who went up against Goliath without a shield or sword, but with a throwing weapon, and killed the giant with a precise hit of a stone in the forehead. The Philistines fled, the Jews triumphed, and King Saul made David commander. Later, after the death of the Jewish ruler, David was anointed king.

“The Battle of David and Goliath”, artist Nicolaas Goetzee, 1748

The prophet also succeeded in the role of king: the kingdom of Israel became a single state, and the Ark of the Covenant, the main Jewish shrine, was moved to Jerusalem. Subsequently, the Jerusalem Temple will be built for her by David's son Solomon. One day, King David sinned by having an affair with the wife of his commander. The psalmist paid for the sin he committed throughout his life.

Repenting of what he had done, David wrote a number of psalms, which formed the basis of the Psalter. Today this book has become universal in the life of an Orthodox person: it is used both as a liturgical book, and as an edifying book, and as read in every need by believers in home prayers.

The name of King David's great-grandmother, Ruth, is also associated with Bethlehem. Ruth was a pagan from the Moabite people, but later married the Jew Boaz and accepted faith in One God. The Old Testament describes how in the vicinity of Bethlehem a girl was gathering ears of wheat. The events from the life of King David's great-grandmother are described in detail in the Old Testament Book of Ruth of the same name.

Nativity

Of course, the main event for which Bethlehem is famous was, is and will be the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

In 63 BC. Roman troops under the command of Pompey the Great captured the Kingdom of Judea. The country became a province of the Roman Empire, and the Jewish rulers henceforth became vassals of the emperor. The form of government and territorial division of Judea constantly changed, and eventually the area became part of Syria. After administrative reforms, the Roman governor Quirinius decided to conduct a population census in the lands under his control. This was done in order to take into account potential taxpayers. According to the order of Quirinius, the inhabitants of Syria were to report to the cities from which their family originated and undergo a census process.

From the family of King David, a native of Bethlehem, came Joseph the Betrothed and the Most Holy Theotokos. At the call of the Roman authorities, they went to the homeland of their ancestors. The census was large-scale, and upon arriving from Nazareth in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary spent the night in a cave, since the city hotels were overcrowded.

It was here that the Savior of the world, Baby Jesus, was born. Soon after the birth of Christ, an angel appeared to shepherds from the outskirts of Bethlehem, informed them of the great event and directed them to the cave to the Newborn. Following the appearance of one angel, the evangelist Luke described the appearance of the entire heavenly army, which solemnly uttered the words that became one of the hymns of the Christmas holiday:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”

(Luke 2:14)

Nativity, Greece. Modern fresco

The shepherds found the cave, informed Jesus’ parents about the unusual phenomenon, and in delight, in the middle of the night, went to tell the people of Bethlehem about the birth of the Messiah.

The sign in the form of a bright star was noticed by the Magi (magicians) from the country east of Judea. They regarded the event as a sign from above and went straight to King Herod, convinced of the ruler’s connection with Jesus. The king only spread his hands, but asked the wise men to tell him where Christ was. Eastern magicians left the palace and made their way to Bethlehem, accompanied by a mysterious guiding star.

Joseph and Mary had already found shelter in the house by that time. Arriving in Bethlehem, the Magi brought the famous gifts to the Newborn: gold - as for a king, incense - as for a priest, myrrh - as for someone who was about to die. Having bowed to Christ, the Magi returned to their country, without returning to Herod.

Herod was angry because he believed that Christ was a contender for his royal power. Fear of losing his title forced Herod to kill several thousand babies. The wrath of the king of the Jews did not affect the family of Jesus, since an angel appeared to Joseph the Betrothed and told him to flee to Egypt with his family.

The Nativity of Christ became one of the greatest events in human history, since through it God entered the world of people and, by his example, showed the way to achieving eternal happiness in earthly and afterlife.

Fresco “Massacre of the Innocents”

After Christ

In 132, the anti-Roman uprising of Bar Kochba took place in Israel, which was suppressed and was accompanied by the destruction of Jewish cities. Bethlehem also suffered this fate. The city was desolate until the time of Empress Helena, a Christian who went to the Holy Land on pilgrimage and actively helped the construction of the Church of the Nativity of Christ over the cave that was the birthplace of the Savior.

In the 6th century, the Basilica of the Nativity was destroyed by the rebel Samaritans, but the church was restored under Emperor Justinian. 100 years later, Bethlehem was captured by the Persians, but the temple was left intact. Over the course of many centuries, the city passed from hand to hand between the Crusaders and Saracens, and the clergy, depending on the political situation, changed from Latin to Orthodox. Bethlehem was subjected to regular destruction, but the Church of the Nativity remained undamaged.

Today Bethlehem is a city within the Palestinian Authority. Both Christians and Muslims live in the city. Despite the variegated ethno-religious composition of Bethlehem and the tense situation in the Middle East, the city is open to pilgrims and tourists from all over the world, and guests characterize its residents as hospitable hosts.

Shrines of Bethlehem

Cave of the Nativity

Aerial view of the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

It was here that Jesus Christ was born from the Most Holy Theotokos. Under Empress Helena, an underground temple appeared here. The birthplace of Christ is marked in the floor with a star with 14 rays, symbolizing Bethlehem. Around the star there are 16 lamps belonging to different Christian denominations, including Orthodox. Above the place of the Nativity there is a throne and an altar of the underground temple, where the Liturgy is regularly served. Only representatives of the Orthodox and Armenian Churches are allowed to conduct it.

Model of the Church of the Nativity. The main Basilica of the Nativity is administered by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. It looks like a regular Romanesque basilica, with five naves separated by Corinthian columns and an apse at the eastern end where the holy of holies is located. The basilica is a rectangle 53.9 meters long, a nave 26.2 meters long, a transept 35.82 meters long. Upon entering the church, you will see four rows of columns, of which there are 44 in total.

The cave is a small room, which is accessed by the so-called northern and southern staircases, built during the time of Emperor Justinian. At the time of the Birth of Jesus, the cave most likely served an economic function. A limestone grotto is a common feature in Bethlehem; as a rule, local residents built houses over it. The caves themselves housed livestock, as evidenced by iron tether rings preserved in the walls. A similar practice existed in Bethlehem until the 20th century.

The birthplace of Christ is marked in the floor with a star with 14 rays, symbolizing Bethlehem

Cave of Hieronymus of Stridon

Saint Jerome was a Roman priest, a very educated man, who was forced to leave the city by the intrigues of envious people and spiteful critics. The blessed one went to the holy land, where he lived the rest of his life.

Jerome founded a Christian community in Bethlehem, and he himself settled in a cave adjacent to the Grotto of the Nativity. Reclusion became a time of fruitful work for the saint: Jerome compiled a new Latin translation of the Bible called the Vulgate, recognized in later centuries as the most accurate in the Western Church. Saint Jerome is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as blessed; his memory is celebrated on June 28. The entrance to Jerome's cell is located in the western wall of the Cave of the Nativity.

Cave of Hieronymus of Stridon

Cave of the Bethlehem Babies

Under Bethlehem, a whole network of underground caves has been built naturally. Another holy dungeon is the Cave of the Bethlehem Infants. Here lie the remains of children killed by order of King Herod, as well as the bones of Christians killed by the Persians in the 7th century. The Cave of the Innocents is also a place of pilgrimage for believers from all over the world. In front of their relics, people pray for children who died a violent death, and repent of the perfect sin of abortion.

The photo shows the bones of Christian martyrs who died in 614. Along with the bones of adults, there are also children's bones.

Here, in the dungeon, there is one of the most ancient catacomb churches, dating back to the 4th century.

Basilica of the Nativity

Above all the listed holy caves is the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ. Its construction in Palestine was completed in 339 under the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great. The Church of the Nativity is unique in that it is the only church that has survived from the pre-Muslim era in the region. Under the pulpit of the basilica there is a cave in which Christ was born. The temple is under the joint management of Greeks, Armenians and Catholics. Since the construction of the temple, services have not been interrupted here. The patronal feast day and central celebration in the basilica is the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. In addition to the saints' cave, the temple contains another revered Christian shrine - the Bethlehem Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Basilica of the Nativity

Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God

The history of the creation of the image dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. According to legend, Evangelist Luke painted an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, later called Jerusalem. The image was in Byzantium, was transferred to Russia and disappeared after the occupation of Moscow by Napoleon's troops in 1812. The icon belongs to the “Guide” icon painting type.

The Bethlehem icon was painted in Russia. Its main difference is the smile on the face of the Mother of God. There is no exact information about the date of creation and transfer of the image to the Basilica of the Nativity. According to one version, this was done by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova, who was healed from a serious illness in front of the icon. Another opinion says that Elizabeth is the venerable martyr, the wife of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, who was shot by the Bolsheviks in 1918. It is known that the Grand Duchess also received healing from her illness after praying in front of the image. Since then, the Bethlehem icon has been in the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ near the descent into the cave in which Christ was born.

Not only Christians, but also Muslims come to the Bethlehem icon with prayers. People ask the Most Holy Theotokos for help in a variety of needs: recovery, well-being, the gift of children in case of infertility. The day of remembrance of the icon is set for August 28, the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The entire cave is distinguished by the fact that its walls are milky white. Both Christians and Muslims come here with prayers and requests to be healed of infertility. The first temple above the cave appeared in the 5th century, but due to desolation it was bought by the Franciscans in the 14th century, and since then by Catholics.

Icon “Mammal”

Other significant places and attractions in Bethlehem

The center of Bethlehem is considered to be Manger Square, around which Christian shrines are located. On the square there is the Basilica of the Nativity and the entrance to the holy caves. Pilgrims and city residents meet here.

On the southeastern side of the basilica there is a Greek monastery, on the northern side there is a Franciscan monastery. The city also has “King David’s wells” - reservoirs from which soldiers brought water to the prophet during the battle with the Philistines.

There are several monasteries in and around the outskirts of Bethlehem. The most famous are the Lavra of Sava the Consecrated, the monastery of Theodosius the Great and Karantal (Temptation). The jurisdiction of the Russian spiritual mission in the Holy Land includes the Holy Trinity Monastery in Hebron, the monastery of John the Baptist and the monastery of Chariton the Confessor. On the territory of the Hebron monastery there is the Oak of Mamre, under which the forefather Abraham talked with three angels who appeared to him.

Lavra of Saint Sava the Consecrated

The historical attractions of the city include the fortress of Herod the Great and the ponds of King Solomon.

Bethlehem was and remains the city of the Nativity of our God, Jesus Christ, who came to people to show them the way to eternal life and eternal happiness. After 2000, all the city’s shrines were preserved by the Lord so that believers could touch biblical history and the living world of faith. Since ancient times, places and churches that preserve the imprint of the holiness of Christ and the Mother of God have helped people find answers to eternal questions and receive help in resolving the most difficult issues. Bethlehem is open to every person who enters it with a good heart and the intention of meeting God.

The Church of the Nativity is a continuously operating church located in Bethlehem. The first temple was built in 330 and was reconstructed several times. The monastery was built of stone, its roof covered with wood. The temple has five naves, they are separated by a colonnade of ten columns topped with capitals.

The interior of the temple looks very rich - marble was used to decorate the walls and floor. Mosaics on the walls are partially preserved. Initially, the temple space was illuminated by 22 windows, however, they are currently blocked.

Pilgrims come here to see the miraculous icon of the smiling Mother of God - a gift from Queen Elizabeth.

Basilica of the Nativity

The first church was built over the Cave of Christ back in 326. Two hundred years later, it was destroyed during the uprising in Samaria, but Emperor Justinian approached its restoration with all responsibility: the church not only arose in its original place in the shortest possible time, but also acquired new chapels. In this form, it has remained almost untouched to this day. The Muslim rulers, who subsequently seized these lands, treated the shrine with respect, and numerous wars did not affect its stones.

From the outside, the walls of the basilica look quite modest. Its main attraction, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, lies inside, where spiral staircases lead down to the Grotto of the Nativity...

The birthplace of Jesus is marked by a silver star set into the floor and a marble altar. The space around is illuminated by the light of numerous lamps. The faces of saints silently gaze from the icons on the walls of the grotto, and the entire space of the cave is permeated with an atmosphere of the divine...

What sights of Bethlehem did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Rachel's Tomb

One of the attractions of Palestine is Rachel's Tomb, located near Jerusalem. According to legend, the foremother Rachel was buried in this place. The tomb has been a pilgrimage site for Jews and a holy place for Christians and Muslims for many centuries.

The first information about it is given in the Book “Beresheet”. This structure consists of a tombstone and a room built around it. In the 16th century, two more domes were added to the building, connected to other structures, and thus the tomb turned into an enclosed space. In the mid-19th century, the building was restored; another room was added to the premises, the right to use which was divided between Jews and Muslims. In 2002, the building was surrounded by a high concrete fence, which served to protect visitors from hostile Arab residents. Inside the structure there is a synagogue where daily prayers and Torah study take place.

Currently, Rachel's Tomb is a historical monument popular with tourists. It is considered a symbol of the return of the Jewish people to the Holy Land.

A significant landmark of Palestine is the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Temptation, located near Bethlehem in the Judean Desert. It is built on the mountain of the same name, which is identified with the place of the temptation of Jesus Christ by the devil, which is described in the Gospel.

Most of the monastery's premises are carved into the rock, and a small chapel is built in the cave. The altar of the church is installed near the stone over which, according to legend, Christ prayed. Currently, the monastery is active, ten people live here, the only abbot of the monastery is a Greek monk. The Mount of Temptation is located at an altitude of 350 meters above sea level, so the monastery offers a magnificent panorama of the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley, where, according to legend, Jesus spent 40 days and nights of fasting.

This unique place is of great historical value, attracting a huge number of tourists. You can get to the monastery along a steep path, which takes half an hour, or in five minutes by cable car from Tel Jericho. Unlike some Greek monasteries, women are also allowed here.

Monastery of Theodosius the Great

The Monastery of Theodosius the Great, located 12 kilometers east of Bethlehem in the Palestinian National Authority, was founded by Theodosius the Great, a Christian saint, in 476.

Theodosius the Great founded a monastery near the cave, where, according to legend, the wise men who came to worship Christ rested on their way back. The cave has survived to this day. It contains the tombs of saints, including St. Theodosius himself.

The Monastery of Theodosius the Great is the first communal monastery in Palestine. In the 6th - early 7th centuries the number of inhabitants exceeded 700 people.

Currently, the Monastery of Theodosius the Great is an Orthodox Greek convent under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, which bought it in 1898.

Milk Grotto

The Milk Grotto of Our Lady, located in the city of Bethlehem, in the Palestinian Authority, is a place of pilgrimage for women who dream of becoming a mother or have problems with lactation - breastfeeding. It was created on the site of a cave in which, according to legend, Joseph and the Virgin Mary, the parents of Jesus Christ, fled to Egypt.

When Mary fed the baby milk, a drop of milk fell on the red floor and walls of the grotto and painted them white. Since then, it has been believed that powder from the grotto relieves infertility and helps with feeding. The chapel was erected over the cave by Franciscan monks. In addition to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, in the grotto hang photographs of mothers with babies who were helped by a visit to this holy place. Very close to the Milk Grotto is the Bethlehem Church of the Nativity.

Lavra of Saint Sava the Consecrated

The Lavra of St. Sava is located in the Judean Desert, in the Kidron Valley. Its second name is the Mar Saba Monastery. The Lavra of St. Sava is a Greek monastery in the Palestinian Authority. Founded in the 5th century and illuminated by Sava the Consecrated.

In past centuries, Mar Saba was one of the most densely populated monasteries, as it could afford to accommodate a large number of monks. Previously, five thousand monks lived on the territory of the monastery; today only twenty monks live here. Savva was a hermit, ascetic and deeply religious, so the first building in the desert was a church. Over time, students began to approach him and settle near him. And so the laurel began to expand. At the beginning of the 7th century, the Persians attacked the monastery, destroyed a significant number of buildings and killed the monks. Their incorruptible relics and skulls are still kept in tombs.

The Lavra of Saint Sava the Consecrated is one of the few places where progress has not reached. Monks deliberately refuse many of the benefits of civilization. For example, there is no light in the Lavra these days; the monks use candles and kerosene lamps. In all the 16th centuries that the Lavra has existed, no woman has ever set foot in it. As local legends say, even Savva’s mother lived far from the territory of the monastery. Savva and his prayers were considered saints - after long prayers by St. Savvy, from the stones located near the monastery, a spring began to flow, which has not dried up to this day.

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Monastery of Deir Carantal

The Deir Carantal Monastery was built in the 6th century and is located on the site of the cave where, according to legend, Jesus Christ lived. The monastery is located on the western part of Jericho, on a steep cliff 380 meters above sea level. The mountain has several names, and one of them, in the spirit of biblical traditions, is “Mountain of Temptations.” As the Bible tells us, it was in this cave that Jesus remained for forty days after his baptism, tempted by Satan and refusing all food and drink.

The road to the monastery is very difficult and exhausting to climb. Every year more and more tourists seek to visit this strange place, and relatively recently permission was given by the Palestinian authorities to build a cable car that leads almost to the foot of the monastery from the excavations of the ancient Jericho.

At the foot of the mountain flows the Jordan River, with cascades of small waterfalls located at a distance from each other. Despite the difficult path that one has to overcome on the way to the monastery, the extraordinary beauty that opens up for pilgrims and the atmosphere that reigns in this special place are truly worth the effort. On the days of great holidays, the walls of the monastery receive especially many pilgrims who want to pray on some special religious day.

The most popular attractions in Bethlehem with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Bethlehem on our website.

More attractions of Bethlehem

Bethlehem- Bethlehem. Church of the Nativity. BETHLEHEM (Church Slavonic; Hebrew Bethlehem, modern Beit Lakhm), a city in Palestine, south of Jerusalem. According to the Bible, the birthplace of King David and the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Bethlehem. Shrine of the church... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Russified form Bethlehem) Canaanite, then Jewish city near Jerusalem in Palestine (now the city of Beit Lakhm in Israel). Probably founded around the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. According to biblical legend, on the road near Bethlehem... ... Historical Dictionary

City on the west bank of the river Jordan, south of Jerusalem. Modern Arab. name Beit Lakhm, Hebrew Bet Lechem, Russian. traditional Bethlehem; According to the Bible, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Suggested etymology of other Hebrew. house of bread See also Belen, Bethlehem... Geographical encyclopedia

- (Church Slavonic; Hebrew Bethlehem modern Beit Lakhm), a city in Palestine, south of Jerusalem. According to the Bible, the birthplace of King David and the birthplace of Jesus Christ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (house of bread): 1) city of the tribe of Judah, called. so for the fertility of the surrounding lands (see Ruth 2), bordering Judah. desert. In the documents of the Tell Amarna archive (XIV century BC), this city is called Beth Lahama, the house (or temple) of the goddess Lahama and belongs to... ... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia

Noun, number of synonyms: 1 city (2765) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

A Palestinian city, known in the Old Testament as the birthplace of the greatest Jewish king David, and in the New Testament as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is located two hours south of Jerusalem and lies in fertile terrain, on two hills, the slopes of which... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

- (house of bread) (Gen.35:19, Mic.5:1, Mat.2:1, Ruth.1:2), also called Bethlehem Ephrathah (Mic.5:2), was such a small and insignificant town, in the tribe of Judah, that he is not even mentioned in the general lists of the cities of Judah, such as Nehemiah. Ch. 11. In… … Bible. Old and New Testaments. Synodal translation. Biblical encyclopedia arch. Nikifor.

Bethlehem- Beit Lechem. Bethlehem, house of bread. 1) Judean "City of David", approximately 7.5 km south of Jerusalem; picturesquely located on a rocky hill, 726 m above sea levels, offering wonderful views in all directions. It was… … Dictionary of Biblical Names

Bethlehem- Another name for Efrafa (Ephrata). A city located in the Judean Highlands 8 km southwest of Jerusalem. Jacob's wife Rachel was buried near Bethlehem. Ruth and Naomi lived here. David was born in Bethlehem, and it was here that the prophet Samuel... ... Detailed Dictionary of Biblical Names

Books

• To the land of the eternal covenant. Description of my journey through Kyiv, Odessa and Constantinople to Athos, Jerusalem, St. Mount Sinai, Bar-Grad, Rome, Jordan, Galilee, Bethlehem and Hebron. , Kusmartsev P.I.. The book is a reprint of 1904. Despite the fact that serious work has been done to restore the original quality of the publication, some pages may...

Bethlehem is a desirable city for Jewish, Christian and Muslim pilgrims. At all times, the city's residents were exclusively engaged in serving pilgrims and making souvenirs. That is why, in an economic sense, Bethlehem — one of the most successful cities in the Palestinian Authority.

The hometown of Jesus Christ is not located in Israel, and the vast majority of tourists arrive there from Jerusalem, you need to prepare for some formalities:

• Bethlehem is an integral part of the territory of the Palestinian Authority; when crossing the border, all pilgrims and tourists are subject to control (simple and fast on the way to the city of Christ, long and meticulous when returning to Israeli territory);
• No additional visas or fees are required to cross the border; a regular passport will do;
• The main population of Bethlehem is Muslim, so it is worth thinking about clothing, especially for women (despite the tolerance and reverent attitude towards any pilgrim or tourist, it is better not to come here in shorts or a short T-shirt);
• You should not argue or show displeasure during the inspection of your belongings and personal search when crossing the border, all this will only slow down the procedure and threaten serious troubles with the border guards;
• Avoid drinking alcohol, especially in the Palestinian Authority.

In fact, if you follow all the simple rules listed above, your trip to Bethlehem will not be uncomfortable or troublesome. Finding yourself in the city where many of the events described in the Old and New Testaments took place, you can plunge into the unique atmosphere of a thousand-year history with a light heart. Let's move on to the sights of Bethlehem.

Read in this article

The place where the Savior appeared to the world

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is not only the oldest Christian church, it is the main shrine and place of worship for Christians of all faiths. In terms of the number of miraculous faces, miraculous phenomena and most valuable artifacts, the temple undoubtedly leads among all Christian holy places. And if we find ourselves in this amazing place, we will try not to miss anything.

A drop of history

The birthplace of the Savior has been revered since the 2nd century AD, when the very first chapel, made of boulders, was erected over the cave where the great miracle happened. The chapel was destroyed on the orders of the stern and active Roman Emperor Hadrian, who became famous for his hatred of Christians, abundant facial hair and non-standard sexual orientation. To further aggravate the grief of the followers of Christ, the Roman ruler ordered a temple to be erected at the birthplace of the Messiah to Adonis, the god of spring rebirth, flowering and beauty. Christians came to the temple, but prayed to their God.

A Christian temple, very modest, reappeared on this site through the efforts of Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine. In the 6th century, the church burned down, but was quickly restored. The Basilica of the Nativity was never destroyed again.

"Place"

The main shrine of the temple is the Cave of the Nativity. According to canonical texts, it was here that the incarnation of the Lord into human form, the Nativity of Christ, took place. There is a cave under the pulpit of the temple. The place of birth of the Child is indicated by a silver star, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, the appearance of which in the sky announced to the world the coming of the Savior.

The star, which every pilgrim can see today, was installed only in the middle of the 19th century. The ancient decoration of the “Place” was stolen by the Turks, for which the Ottoman Sultan himself had to apologize. He also restored the symbolic frame of the place of the Nativity of Christ at his own expense.

In the cave, anyone can consecrate a pectoral cross, icon or icon independently, without the participation of a priest. It is enough to attach the object to the silver Star of Bethlehem with prayer and gratitude.

Cradle aisle

It is known that the cradle of the Savior was an ordinary wooden feeding trough for livestock - a manger. In the place where, according to legend, the cradle of Christ stood, a small chapel was built in the Cave of the Nativity. The wooden part of the feeder has been kept in Rome since the 7th century - Christians were afraid that the Muslims who captured these lands would desecrate the shrine. In the Bethlehem Temple you can only see a “place” framed in marble and hung with lamps.

Caves "milk" and "Babies of Bethlehem"

Near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem there is not one, but several caves connected to each other. Access for pilgrims is open to two of them:

• Milk Cave - the place of refuge of the Holy Family during the bloody “massacre of the infants”; legend says that the Mother of God, while feeding the baby Savior, spilled a few drops of milk on the stones of the cave, which is why they became snow-white. In ancient times, stones from this cave were revered as part of the relics of holy saints.
• The Cave of the Innocents is a place where the relics of infants and their parents were kept, killed by order of Herod, frightened by the prophecy about the birth of the “King of the Jews.” Today here you can see not only the remains of the unfortunate, but also the oldest altar throne in Israel - the remnant of the oldest cave Christian church from the time of the Roman Empire.

Evidence of the Miracles of the Lord

In addition to the cave, in the Church of the Nativity there are many wonderful and mysterious artifacts (if such a “cardboard” word can be applied to those miracles that are in this ancient church of Bethlehem).

Liki

Among the numerous icons of the Bethlehem Temple, two images stand out:

• The icon of the smiling Virgin and Child is located at the entrance to the Cave of the Nativity, considered a miraculous image, a gift from the Russian imperial house; The unique, non-canonical image of the Virgin Mary is full of happiness and bright joy; people come to the icon for healing from all ailments, as well as in search of maternal happiness;
• The face of the Savior on one of the columns of the temple is the most mysterious among the icons of Bethlehem; every visitor sees this image either with closed or open eyes. As you approach the image, it appears that the Savior is blinking. There are no sufficiently clear explanations for this phenomenon.

"Aspen" column

This column is otherwise called the “column of requests.” On one of the marble pillars of the temple you can see 5 small holes arranged in the form of a cross. They say that during the time of the seizure of these lands by Muslims, several Arabs rode into the temple on horseback with the intention of plundering it and dealing with the “infidels.”

Through the prayer of the Christians who were in the church at that time, a miracle happened - a swarm of wasps flew out of the column. The bitten Arabs were forced to retreat. Since then (since the 7th century), everyone can prayerfully ask the Lord for something by putting the fingers of one hand into the holes of the column. A request will be granted if it is not intended to harm anyone (including the person asking).

Artistic values

In addition to the shrines that the main church of Bethlehem is so rich in, tourists can also enjoy magnificent works of art here:

• Remains of a mosaic floor, preserved from the time of the temple built by St. Helena;
• Rich Byzantine mosaics are fragmentarily preserved on the walls of the church;
• Unique painting of the columns of the temple - despite the “wornness” and poor preservation, these paintings, made using the forgotten technique of painting with “wax” paints with subsequent polishing, are undoubtedly one of the masterpieces of medieval art;

Besides

It is common for Israel to concentrate in one place the shrines of three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. When visiting the city of Bethlehem, you simply must see:

• The tomb of Rachel - the Old Testament wife and mother of the patriarchs, a symbol of maternal love and sacrifice. It is located almost within the city limits of Jerusalem, but already on the territory of Palestine. A sacred place for followers of all three religions.
• The wells of King David are three large reservoirs with wells; according to legend, it was from here that David wanted to drink during a battle with his enemies, the scene is described in the Bible. Interestingly, an ancient burial place was discovered very close by, which could presumably be the tomb of the great king himself.
• The Umar Mosque is the oldest in Bethlehem, built on the spot where Caliph Umar, a companion and comrade-in-arms of the Prophet himself, prayed.

And finally

Bethlehem, in addition to religious shrines, churches, monasteries, tombs and mosques, offers tourists several interesting establishments:

• The Palestinian Heritage Center is a cultural hub that combines a museum, an exhibition center, fashion shows of traditional Palestinian clothing, a gift shop (embroidery, wood carvings, etc.)
• The Folklore Museum is in the very center of the city, a small but very interesting institution: almost all the crafts for which the city has been famous since time immemorial are presented here.

When to go?

The best time to visit Bethlehem is spring and autumn. It's too hot in summer, too rainy and uncomfortable in winter. You shouldn't go here during the Christmas holidays: crowds, high prices, long lines. No matter how paradoxical it may sound, Christmas in Bethlehem can leave very complex and fragmentary impressions.

How to go?

The easiest way to get to the city where Jesus was born is by bus from Jerusalem. Cheap and fairly fast (about 20 minutes), although not very comfortable and often cramped.

A taxi will cost three times more, but the pleasure from the trip will be greater.

If you decide to join a group of tourists that form on the streets of Jerusalem, then all your problems will be solved by the organizing travel company.

Keep your ears open!

Around all the main attractions of Bethlehem, there are constantly a lot of “private guides” who catch naive individual tourists. They unmistakably identify someone who has found themselves in the Promised Land for the first time and offer their services. The main argument: “They won’t let you go anywhere without me!” Remember! They are trying to deceive you and make money off of you. Thank them politely and confidently inform them that you do not require any services.

Most often, “guides” of this kind can only provide one reliable information: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” This is where their valuable information ends and complete nonsense begins.

It makes more sense to purchase a guidebook: cheaper and more informative.

Bethlehem is a small city in Palestine, bordering southern Jerusalem. The city is a disputed territory between Palestine and Israel, although it de facto belongs to Palestine. King David was born in Bethlehem. A thousand years after this, the Magi saw a star above Bethlehem, announcing the birth of the Messiah. Today we take a short look into the Palestinian Authority to visit the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Bethlehem is separated from Jerusalem by a high wall erected by the Israeli government to isolate itself from Palestinian territories. Travel is carried out through a checkpoint, where everyone's documents are checked. For Russians, the procedure is simple - just say that you are from Russia, and the need to show documents immediately disappears.

In the distance, in a light haze, is one of the quarters of Jerusalem. So close, and so far.

One of the streets of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is an ordinary Muslim city. Although several decades ago the majority of the population were Christians.

Here, surrounded by Islam, is the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ, the second Christian shrine after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The basilica is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The first temple on this site was built at the beginning of the 4th century. Since then, services here have been virtually uninterrupted.

On three sides the basilica is surrounded by different monasteries - Greek Orthodox, Franciscan and Armenian. Therefore, you can only see one of its walls.

The entrance to the basilica gradually decreased over time. This is very clearly visible from the masonry on the wall.

Today you can enter the basilica only through a small hole in the wall - the Gate of Humility. You can pass through them only by bending down and bowing.

Inside, the basilica is a large temple divided into five naves.

Between the naves stretched orderly rows of columns darkened by time.

During the next renovation, an ancient Byzantine mosaic was discovered under the floor.

To get to one of the main Christian shrines you need to stand in a long line.

After standing in line and going down a narrow staircase of 15 steps, we find ourselves in the Cave of the Nativity. This is the place where Jesus was born.

The birthplace is marked with a silver 14-pointed star, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem.

Nearby is the place where there was a manger in which Jesus was laid after birth.

That's all for today.