The Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity is the oldest Christian Church in the world. During the Persian invasion in 614 AD, while all of the other churches built in Emperor Constantine's reign were being razed to the ground this Church was spared. Both the interior and exterior on the Church were renovated by Emperor Justinian in the early part of the 6th century, and then once again restored by the Crusaders. In 1333 AD the Franciscans were allowed to reside and to pray in the Church. The Church of the Nativity together with the Holy Sepulchre Church are regarded as Status Quo Churches and hence, are jointly administered by the Franciscans (Latins)the Greeks and the Armenian Orthodox Communities.

As one enters the small passage of the Church, the above panorama is seen. Some parts of the flooring are covered by wooden panels. Beneath them is what is left of the original flooring of the Constantinian Church built in 335 AD.

The forty - four columns on either side of the Church are eighteen feet high and are from the Justinian period. As one looks up on the two sidewalls, one can see the remains of the gold mosaics from the Crusader period. In the foreground is the main altar of the Greek Orthodox community. It was built over the actual cave or grotto where the birth of Jesus took place. The steps leading down to the grotto from the entrance on the right was the original entrance. Latter on, a second set of stairs were built on the left which is the present exit.

Above lies the Armenian Orthodox section of the Church with its small but ornate altar. To the right the exit steps coming out of the Grotto of the Nativity.

This section of the Church of the Nativity belongs to the Roman Catholics and is administered by the Franciscans. It is at this Church that the 'Midnight Mass' is televised by major TV networks. It also serves as the parish Church for the Catholic faithful and was recently renovated and enlarged for the Jubilee Year.

The visit of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II to the Church of St. Catherine at Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.