The Church of the Nativity and the City of Bethlehem - July 27, 2011 - (Matthew Mac Donald)

Today, we spent time touring the city of Bethlehem after arriving at the Casa Nova Pilgrimage house last night. The two major sites we looked at was the Church of the Nativity, which is divided into two churches - the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (this is the Latin Rite Church under the custodianship of the Franciscans of the Holy Land) which is adjoined to the Main Basilica of the Nativity (which is under the custodianship of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem). During Crusader times, this Church used to be where the King of Jerusalem was crowned. The current church was never completely destroyed by invading forces.

Fabritzio leading us into the Church

The Church of Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr (This is the Roman Catholic Church)

Stained Glass Window depicting the Nativity

Main altar of the Church of Saint Catherine

Marian Altar restored by donations given by various Polish Catholic Churches from the Archdiocese of Chicago

The Tomb of Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church in the crypt of the Church of Saint Catherine

Fr. Fabian Lopez celebrating the Votive Mass for Christmas in the crypt of the church

The Main Altar and Iconostasis of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity

Part of the Floor from the Original Constantinian Church of the Nativity

A Mosaic in the Church dating back to Crusader/Byzantine times

An Altar used in the Church of the Nativity by the Armenian Church

The Entrance into the Crypt of the Church where the Manger is

The Altar of the Nativity

The Actual Birthplace of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ indicated by the silver star

After visiting the Church of the Nativity, we went to the Church of the Milk Grotto. This Church is believed to be the site where the Holy Family briefly lived in Bethlehem in between the Birth of Christ and the flight into Egypt. It is also held by scholars to be a possible site where the Epiphany Took place, when the Infant Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and Saint Joseph were visited by the three wise men (Mt. 2:1-15). The Church is under the custodianship of the Franciscans of the Holy Land. It also has a beautiful chapel of perpetual adoration where the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration pray before our Eucharistic Lord and pilgrims are given the opportunity to submit their own intentions for the sisters to pray for. It also contains the Milk Rock, where it is believed that Our Lady fed the Infant Jesus. Powder from this rock has been grounded up and distributed to married couples who have had medical problems conceiving children and there have been 1,900 documented miracles where such couples have been able to have children after using the powder and praying for Our Lady's intercession. There are also documented cases where people who have suffered with serious illnesses and diseases receiving miraculous cures from the powder. However, one should not look at the powder as a magic but rather as a devotion that Our Lady has given to the Church to draw souls closer to Her son through the light of Faith.

Statue of St. Elias (the Prophet Elijah)

Statue of King David

A Franciscan Priest explaining to us the history of the Church

The main altar of the Church of the Milk Grotto

The Flight into Egypt

Our Lady of the Milk Grotto

We ended the tour with lunch at a local Palestinian Restaurant, where we all had an opportunity to try hummus, felafel, pita and the regional cuisine:

Robert, Nick, Tyler, and Michael enjoying the Palestinian Cuisine