Middle East Trip 2003: Syria | Lebanon | Jordan | Palestine The Palestinian-Israeli conflict Travelogue
Bethlehem
During our stay in Palestine, we had the opportunity to visit one of the most representative places of the region, universally known for being the place where Jesuchrist was born, and sadly, also for the events that happened here during the second intifada, with the siege of the Nativuty Church and the occupation of the city during months by the israeli army. Nowadays (Autumm 2003), the city is under the Palestine National Authority control, but tourist haven't returned, and when before there were hundreds of buses arraiving daily, now there are only a couple dozen people that come here in a regular day.
Manger Square, Nativity Church and Milk Grotto
Manger Square, the centre of the life in Bethlehem
Church of the Nativity, the most important place of Bethlehem. Inside is the birthplace of Christ
One of the crosses of the Church of Nativity
The Bethlehem Peace Center in Manger Square share trend with Church of Nativity
A huge picture of the president of Palestine Yasser Arafat in the Bethlehem Peace Center
Some greek-orthodox monks taking part in a procession near Nativity Church
Yolanda in front of the doorway of the Church of the Nativity watched over by the palestine police. The doorway was reduced during the centuries to avoid the entry of the Crusaders riding their horses
In Bethlehem the bell towers are mixed with the minarets of the mosques
Grotta near the Church of the Nativity
Grotta Milk, the place where Virgin Mary breast-fed the baby. The legend said that a drop o milk felt over a rock and this rock become to be white
The interior of the Nativity Church
Inside the Church of the Nativity
Mosaic of the old ground of the Church of the Nativity
David inside the Nativity Church
Children inside the Church
The main altar of the Church is bizantine.The altar and the birthplace belongs to the Greek Church, there are parts of the armenian and catholic Churches
Greek-Orthodox area of the Church
The entry to the grotta of the birthplace and the manger
The manger, the place where Jesus was lying and adored by the three wise men. This place belongs to the Catholic Church and Pope John Paul II was praying during his visit to Bethlehem year 2000
This neon star in the ceiling indicates the place of the manger
The silver star is situated in the birthplace os Jesus, near the manger
A leather cloak delicately patterned donated by the french government covers the original walls of the grotto
General view of the place of the Nativity, with the stairs which lead to the upper floor. The manger is in the right area
The opposite area of the grotto with a door that are opened only the 25th of december
The courtyard of the catholic church have a mosaic with the position of the Church of Nativity, the grotto milk, the anunciation site and the city of Jerusalem
The st. Jerome statue in the catholic church
The Virgin Mary statue in the catholic church attached to the Church of Nativity
Inside the catholic church. There is a stairs that lead to a grotto where were buried the children killed by order of Herodes
Tower bell of the Church
Another tower bell of the Church
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