Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity ( ) in Bethlehem is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth , and it is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam (see Jesus in Islam ).

The Church of the Nativity is a basilica located in Bethlehem , Palestine . The church was originally commissioned in 327 AD by Constantine and his mother Helena over the site that is still traditionally considered to be located over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth . The Church of the Nativity site's original basilica was completed in 339 AD and destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the sixth century AD. A new basilica was built 565 AD by Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor , restoring the architectural tone of the original. The site of the Church of the Nativity has had numerous additions since this second construction, including its prominent bell towers. Due to its cultural and geographical history, the site holds a prominent religious significance to those of both the Christian and Muslim faiths . The site of the Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site , and was the first to be listed under Palestine by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The site is also on UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites in Danger . "Conflict and Neglect: Between Ruin and Preservation at the Church of the Nativity." Lazaroff, Tovah (29 June 2012).

The Church of the Nativity , or Basilica of the Nativity , is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the West Bank . The grotto it contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus . The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land . The church was originally commissioned by Constantine the Great a short time after his mother Helena 's visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 325–326, on the site that was traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus. That original basilica was likely built between 330–333, being already mentioned in 333, and was dedicated on 31 May 339. It was destroyed by fire during the Samaritan revolts of the sixth century, possibly in 529, and a new basilica was built a number of years later by Byzantine Emperor Justinian (r. 527–565), who added a porch or narthex , and replaced the octagonal sanctuary with a cruciform transept complete with three apses , but largely preserved the original character of the building, with an atrium and a basilica consisting of a nave with four side aisles . The Church of the Nativity, while remaining basically unchanged since the Justinianic reconstruction, has seen numerous repairs and additions, especially from the Crusader period, such as two bell towers (now gone), wall mosaics and paintings (partially preserved). Over the centuries, the surrounding compound has been expanded, and today it covers approximately 12,000 square meters, comprising three different monasteries: one Greek Orthodox , one Armenian Apostolic , and one Roman Catholic , of which the first two contain bell towers built during the modern era. The silver star marking the spot where Christ was born, inscribed in Latin, was stolen in October 1847 by Greek monks who wished to remove this Catholic item. Some assert that this was a contributing factor in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire . Others assert that the war grew out of the wider European situation. Since 2012, the Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site and was the first to be listed by UNESCO under 'Palestine'. A 250-year-old understanding among religious communities, the Status Quo , applies to the site. In Melanie Hall (ed.). Conflict and Neglect: Between Ruin and Preservation at the Church of the Nativity . Today, the compound of the Nativity church covers an area of approximately 12,000 square meters and includes, besides the Basilica, the Latin convent in the north, the Greek convent in the south-east and the Armenian convent in the south-west. A bell-tower and sacristy were built adjoining the south-east corner of the Basilica. Discovering the World of the Bible . The Crimean War: The Truth Behind the Myth . The Status Quo in the Holy Places . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Basilica in Bethlehem For other uses, see Church of the Nativity (disambiguation) . The Church of the Nativity , or Basilica of the Nativity , is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the State of Palestine , in the West Bank . The grotto holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus . The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land . The church was originally commissioned by Constantine the Great a short time after his mother Helena 's visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 325–326, on the site that was traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus. That original basilica was likely built between 330 and 333, being already mentioned in 333, and was dedicated on 31 May 339. It was probably destroyed by fire during the Samaritan revolts of the sixth century, possibly in 529, and a new basilica was built a number of years later by Byzantine Emperor Justinian (r. 527–565), who added a porch or narthex , and replaced the octagonal sanctuary with a cruciform transept complete with three apses , but largely preserved the original character of the building, with an atrium and a basilica consisting of a nave with four side aisles . The Church of the Nativity, while remaining basically unchanged since the Justinianic reconstruction, has seen numerous repairs and additions, especially from the Crusader period, such as two bell towers (now gone), wall mosaics and paintings (partially preserved). Over the centuries, the surrounding compound has been expanded, and today it covers approximately 12,000 square meters, comprising three different monasteries: one Roman Catholic , one Armenian Apostolic , and one Greek Orthodox , of which the first two contain bell towers built during the modern era. The silver star marking the spot where Christ was born, inscribed in Latin, was stolen in October 1847 by Greek monks who wished to remove this Catholic item. Some assert that this was a contributing factor in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire . Others assert that the war grew out of the wider European situation. Since 2012, the Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site and was the first to be listed by UNESCO under ' Palestine '. Since 1852 the rights of the three religious communities are ruled by Status Quo . A History of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem , Rome-Brno, Viella Cohen, Raymond (2011). In Melanie Hall (ed.). Towards world heritage: International origins of the preservation movement 1870–1930 . Today, the compound of the Nativity church covers an area of approximately 12,000 square meters and includes, besides the Basilica, the Latin convent in the north, the Greek convent in the south-east and the Armenian convent in the south-west. A bell-tower and sacristy were built adjoining the south-east corner of the Basilica. Discovering the World of the Bible . The Crimean War: The Truth Behind the Myth . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Basilica in Bethlehem, Palestine For other uses, see Church of the Nativity (disambiguation) . The Church of the Nativity , or Basilica of the Nativity , is a basilica located in Bethlehem , West Bank , Palestine . The grotto holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus . The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity , and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land . The church was originally commissioned by Constantine the Great a short time after his mother Helena 's visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 325–326, on the site that was traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus. That original basilica was likely built between 330 and 333, being already mentioned in 333, and was dedicated on 31 May 339. It was probably destroyed by fire during the Samaritan revolts of the sixth century, possibly in 529, and a new basilica was built a number of years later by Byzantine Emperor Justinian (r. 527–565), who added a porch or narthex , and replaced the octagonal sanctuary with a cruciform transept complete with three apses , but largely preserved the original character of the building, with an atrium and a basilica consisting of a nave with four side aisles . The Church of the Nativity, while remaining basically unchanged since the Justinianic reconstruction, has seen numerous repairs and additions, especially from the Crusader period , such as two bell towers (now gone), wall mosaics and paintings (partially preserved). Over the centuries, the surrounding compound has been expanded, and today it covers approximately 12,000 square meters, comprising three different monasteries: one Catholic , one Armenian Apostolic , and one Greek Orthodox , of which the first two contain bell towers built during the modern era. The silver star marking the spot where Christ was born, inscribed in Latin , was stolen in October 1847 by Greek monks who wished to remove this Catholic item. Some assert that this was a contributing factor in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire . Others assert that the war grew out of the wider European situation. Since 2012, the Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site and was the first to be listed by UNESCO under ' Palestine '. Since 1852, the rights of the three religious communities are ruled by Status Quo . In Melanie Hall (ed.). Towards world heritage: International origins of the preservation movement 1870–1930 . Today, the compound of the Nativity church covers an area of approximately 12,000 square meters and includes, besides the Basilica, the Latin convent in the north, the Greek convent in the south-east and the Armenian convent in the south-west. A bell-tower and sacristy were built adjoining the south-east corner of the Basilica. Discovering the World of the Bible . The Crimean War: The Truth Behind the Myth . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).