Bethlehem is one of the oldest cities in the Holy Land. Jewish people call it “the House of Bread”, and Arabians call it “the House of Meat”. This city is situated in Palestine, along the Jordan River and not far from Jerusalem. This is a major pilgrimage destination. According to the Bible, this is exactly where the son of God – Jesus Christ – was born. This is also where David was crowned as the King of Israel.
The history of Bethlehem started in the 17th – 16th century BC. Caanites were the first settlers in this territory. Later, Romans, who were pagans, established their authority over the region. There was even a period when Muslims were the dominating force in Bethlehem.
Are you out of ideas about things to do in this city? After your arrival in Bethlehem, visit the place where Jesus was supposedly born. This is a grotto under the 6th-century Church of the Nativity. Needless to say, this is an important landmark for many Christians around the world. First mentions of this church date back to 150 AD. Later, a church was built over the grotto in order to immortalize the holy place. The church features many elements of the original décor.
The look of the grotto itself changed unfortunately during several reconstructions which took place here in different years. Only walls still have traces of the past despite the fact that they were strengthened with a stone wall. The length of the cave is roughly twelve meters, and its width is three meters. If you want to see with your own eyes the place where the son of God and Virgin Mary was born, the church and grotto are must-visit landmarks.
Having explored the grotto, move your feet to Manger Square. This is one more important place of historical and cultural significance. Tourists will see the Basilica of the Nativity here. This is a gorgeous ancient building. While walking down the street, you will see pilgrims from all over the world. Bethlehem welcomes exceptionally many guests before Christmas. A big Christmas tree appears on the square for the festive season. People gather in groups and sing religious songs dedicated to the holiday and events, which took place on this day.
Additionally, many leaders of different branches of Christianity organize festive divine services for people. The square is always crowded at Christmas – celebrations and festivities do not stop until midnight. If you want to explore the area thoroughly and admire the architecture of this place, then it is better to visit the city during a non-holiday period.
Have you been dreaming of a child but still don’t have one? In this case, you need to come to Grotto of Our Lady or Milk Grotto. Women, who dream of giving birth, come to this grotto from all over the world to make a pilgrimage to this place. Moreover, if there is a problem with breastfeeding the newly born baby, you can also ask the Virgin Mary to help you. There is a praying area in the cave where Josef and Maria were hiding from the chase.
According to a local legend, Maria was feeding her small son here, and a drop of her milk fell down the floor. After that, all the walls changed their color to white. Local people believe that the powder collected in the grotto is helpful in treating infertility and normalizes lactation. Franciscan monks built a beautiful chapel above the grotto. Inside the cave, visitors can see an icon of the Virgin Mary. This icon has healing power, and stories of numerous women who became pregnant after praying here only prove this. There is a gallery of women’s photographs, and each of them is holding a small “gift” from Our Lady.
Many tourists come to Bethlehem from nearby Jerusalem. There is a security checkpoint between the cities. In order to cross it, you need to have a visa in your passport. If you have it, you can cross the border several times. Intercity buses transfer people between the two cities every day. The ride lasts only thirty minutes. It is also possible to get a taxi that will take you to Bethlehem. Don’t forget to negotiate the price before the ride. By taxi, it will take only fifteen minutes to get to the city.