Here are some photos from my trip into Palestine - Bethlehem during Spring Break (April 2014).
I did a tour with Green Olive Tours.
Meeting Place. YMCA, opposite from King David Hotel.
Which to choose? 5 star luxury or backpacker comfort? Not backpacker prices but they did put on a substantial breakfast.
Arrival in Bethlehem. I was glad I was on a tour as the tourists who arrived through the one checkpoint entry were hassled by the waiting taxi drivers. We arrived via vehicle so didn't have this experience.
First views of 'The Wall'.
Posters lined the wall along with graffiti
Not very original but I was unprepared for both the wall and the opportunity to write on it.
Banksy is a pseudonymous for an Bristol, England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter famous around the world who has self published several books. In August 2005, Banksy painted couple images on the Israeli West Bank barrier, including an image of a Christmas tree surrounded by a wall in Bethlehem and many more. Tourists from all over the world see his artwork while visiting Bethlehem.
Watchtower and gate for armoured vehicles.
The yellow markers define different sections under different rules.
Refugee Camp
Other sites
Church of Nativity
Sorry about the quality of these pictures. I'm not sure what happened from those above to the most important ones below.
The Church of the Nativity was built in the 4th century by the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine. Helena also was the person responsible for the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The present building, the oldest church in Israel/Palestine was reconstructed in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian (527-565) and further repaired by the Crusaders.
The church has a colorful history. When the Persians invaded in 614, they left the church intact, legend has it, because they were moved by a painting inside of the Nativity story depicting the Wise Men of the East in Persian clothes. King Edward IV of England donated wood from English oak trees for the ceiling. He also contributed lead to cover the roof, but that was taken by the Turks, who melted it down to use as ammunition in their war against the Venetians.
The entrance to the church is a low doorway that has its own legends. One story is that the door was installed by the Muslims during their rule to remind Christians that they were guests in the country and must bow to their hosts. An alternative explanation is that the height of the door was designed to prevent unbelievers from entering the church on horseback. Yet another version holds that it was to protect the Christians from their hostile neighbors.
The Church of the Nativity is controlled jointly by three Christian denominations - the Armenian Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.
- The Grotto of the Nativity contains the manger that is believed to be the place where the baby Jesus was laid after he was born. The grotto is encased in white marble.
- The site of the birth is marked by a 14-point star on a marble stone.
- The High Altar standing above the Grotto
Down in the grotto. Jesus' birthplace is marked by the silver star.
The Altar of the Nativity sits below a silver and gold chandelier. Stairways on either side of the main altar lead to a grotto. A fourteen-point silver star embedded in white marble indicates the birthplace of Christ. An inscription reads, Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est ("Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary"). Fifteen lamps burn around the spot. Nearby is the Chapel of the Manger, where Mary placed the baby Jesus. Like theChurch of the Holy Sepulcher, various Christian denominations share control over different parts of the church. The grotto is under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The church is divided into five naves by four rows of Corinthian pillars with pictures of the apostles on them. The names are written in Greek and Latin and many visitors have carved their own signatures over the centuries. The floor of the nave has a hole that allows you to see what remains of the Byzantine mosaics that covered the original church floor.
The church is split into three sections, one for each denomination. This means that any decisions that need to be made can be difficult to reach a consencus. Each part of the church is very different to the others.
Milk Grotto
The Milk Grotto is a place where the Holy Family took shelter during the Slaughter of the Innocents, hiding there from Herod's soldiers. Prior to going to Egypt, Mary nursed Jesus in this small grott. It is said that a drop of the Virgin's milk fell on the floor of the cave, turning the rock white and giving rise to the chalky white stone. People from around the world believe in the fertility powers of the chalky rock and many will travel to this cave simply to scratch of some of the residue, which is later consumed by the hopeful mother to be.
Shepherd's Fields
Shepherd's Fields are locatedin Beit Sahour, a small town east of Bethlehem. Sincee ancient times Shepherds Fields have been identified with the shepherds who saw the Star of Nativity and followed it to Bethlehem.
There are two places known as Shepherd's Fields. One is run by the Catholic Church - there you can see an ancient Byzantic stone mosaic and at the alternative site, which belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church, there is a small Greek Orthodox Church. The walls of the Greek Orthodox Church are covered by icons showing lives of saints. The place appears like a fairytale. While you are there do not miss the olive trees, many are over 2000 years old!
Mar Saba Monastery
Mar Saba is a Greek Orthodox monastery in the middle of a desert, east of Bethlehem. Founded by Saint Sabas of Cappadocia in 439, today it houses around 20 monks. One of monastery's traditions restricts women from entering the main compound. The only building that women can enter is the Women's Tower, near the main entrance
Settlers
Settlements are popping up everwhere.
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