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Bethlehem has been an important city for the three monotheistic faiths throughout history and, especially to Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, Bethlehem was known as Ephrata. The Muslim Caliph Omar also visited the city in 636 AD, and also the Crusaders stayed there.
Bethlehem is about ten km south of Jerusalem and has a mixed Christian and Muslim population. 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.
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Since December 1995, Bethlehem – with a population of some 150,000 - is under sovereignty of the Palestinian Authority. Olive wood souvenirs are the main product of this city along with olives, olive oil and tourism. Bethlehem's real charm can be found in the side streets away from the square and pilgrim sites. The town and suq are a heady mix of ancient and modern, Muslim and Christian Nativity Church The Nativity Church (Basilica of the Nativity)is built above the cave where Jesus is said to have been born. The original sanctuary of Nativity Church was built in AD 323 while the present church was built in 530 AD by Emperor Justinian and later enhanced by the Crusaders. The Church of Nativity has the shape of a cross, and contains the three convents of the Armenians, the Franciscans, and the Greeks. Milk Grotto Tradition has it that Mary stayed there for a short time with Jesus Christ when they were hiding from Herod’s soldiers. Some drops of her milk dropped, turning the rock white. The milk white rock is famous for its healing powers. Today’s church was built by the Franciscans in the 19th Century
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Rachel’s Tomb The tomb of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, is situated at the entrance to Bethlehem. She died while giving birth to her son Benjamin. She was buried on the way to the Ephrata, Bethlehem. Jacob built a memorial over her grave (today’s Rachel’s Tomb). The present sanctuary and mosque were built during the Ottoman period. |
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AROUND BETHLEHEM:
Solomon’s Pool 3 km south of Bethlehem are three large reservoirs and an Ottoman Fort. The pools are some 50 meters apart with at a total length of 0.5 km and have a holding capacity of some 0.34 million cubic meters. According to a legend, it is the place where brothers of Joseph are thought to have returned after they dropped him in the well. The third pool built by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Zahir Khohaqadam in 1460. During the Ottoman period the pools collected the runoff water and were a major source for the residents in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. British Mandate authorities renovated the Pools in the 1920s. Today, the site is being developed as an archaeological and national park.
The Fourth Murad Castle is located at the entrance of Solomon's Pools. It was built in the Turkish period by Sultan Murad to protect the pools against pollution. This Castle contains a mosque as well as soldiers' rooms. Shepherds’ Field Shepherds’ Field is one of the most sacred places to Christians; it is the site where the Angel is said to have appeared to the shepherds and informed them of Jesus’ birth. There are two Shepherds’ fields in Beit Sahour: the Roman Catholics site features a Franciscan Chapel designed to resemble the shepherds’ tent while the Greek Orthodox site features a 5th Century church built over a cave.
Herodion 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. Also in this location are ruins of a Byzantine monastery built on top of important military relics from the Herodion period Mar Elias Monastery 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 AD, destroyed by an earthquake in the year 1160 AD, and rebuilt the same year by the Emperor Manual Communes. Part of the Medieval monastery remains until this day. 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. Mar Saba It is a further 6 km from St. Theodosius to the Greek Orthodox monastery of Mar Saba built in the midst of the desert.
Church and Convent of St. George Located in the village of El-Khader, 3 kilometers to the south of Bethlehem, the church was established in 1600 A.D., on the site of the home of the mother of St. George. The present church was built in 1912 along with the convent and a mental hospital. The site of the present church occupies the place where St. George's family home was located in 275 AD. POLITICAL ISSUES
• Around the city, three refugee camps are located (Dheisheh, ‘Aida and Beit Jibrin Refugee Camps) home to some 15,000 refugees.
• In the Bethlehem district, 18 Israeli settlements are located, mostly on land confiscated from the Palestinian owners.
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