Oct 3 – Bethlehem

Today’s tour was supposed to be of Bethlehem and Jericho (considered the oldest, continuously occupied city in the world).  Unfortunately, there have been security problems in Jericho so that part was cut. 

But Bethlehem, which is close to Jerusalem but in Palestine, was a go.  

First stop was a walk around the Shepherd’s Field…where the angle told the shepherds of Christ’s birth. 

There was a small chapel there that we visited.  

While there a tour group of Asian (perhaps Chinese) tourists visiting.  There was a large book in the chapel with the story, in many languages, from Luke 2 of the shepherds learning of Christ birth.  The story was read in Chinese (we think) and then the group sang O Come All Ye Faithful, also in Chinese. 

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Video of Chinese group singing
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A short walk away was a typical cave from the period that was used to house sheep and goats at night to protect them from predators. 

Our next stop was the Church of the Nativity.  This church is cared for by several different Christian denominations…Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic. 

The interior was fairly simple with a nave flanked by large columns and a line of lanterns down the middle.  

The crossing and transepts were more ornate with a lot of chandeliers and hanging lamps.

We visited the place where Christ was born.  There was a mob of people each getting their photo at the spot.  We finally caught a break in the crowd in order to get a photo.

We also visited the adjacent small grotto that was supposedly the location of the manger.

Paul was somewhat disappointed because the birth place and manger were now stone and not a manger.

It is impossible to say definitively that all of these various Biblical locations we are seeing are the actual, original site of the event.  However, we have found that most of the places we are visiting were built over a crusade's church that was built over a Byzantine church that was built over a small chapel that probably dated within 100 years or so of the time of Christ.  So, perhaps they really are the actual sites of these events. 

All together it was a moving visit. 

Right next door was the Church of St. Catherine...

where a relic of the original manger is held in the red section of this cross.

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More Bethlehem
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When we got back to Jerusalem we decided to walk around some nearby neighborhoods to take some pictures.  

Hotel owned by our new grandson, Atlas.  LOL

There are interesting murals and other hanging art...

and “coverings” over some of streets.  Very colorful. 

And there were a few musicians. 

It was a good day.