Church of the Nativity facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem * |
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 The Altar of the Nativity, which marks the spot where tradition says the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. |
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| Country | Palestine |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 1433 |
| Region ** | Western Asia |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2012 (36th Session) |
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The Church of the Nativity is a very old and important church in Bethlehem. It is one of the oldest churches in the world that is still used today. Many people believe it is built right over the cave where Jesus was born. This makes it a very special place for Christians. It is also respected by Jews and Muslims.
The main part of the church is looked after by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Below the church is a cave or grotto. This is the spot where Jesus is said to have been born. Every year on Christmas Eve, many people gather outside the church in a place called Manger Square. They sing Christmas carols and celebrate. Many also go to a special midnight mass at the Church of Saint Catherine, which is a Roman Catholic church right next door. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem leads this service.
Why the Church Needed Fixing
For a long time, the Church of the Nativity needed a lot of repair work. In 2008, a group called the World Monuments Fund put it on a list of the 100 most endangered sites. This meant the church was in danger of being badly damaged.
Many of the wooden parts of the roof were rotting. They had not been replaced since the 1800s! Rainwater was leaking into the building. This water made the wood rot even faster. It also damaged the old wall mosaics and paintings from the 1100s. The water even created a risk of electrical fires.
Restoring a World Heritage Site
The government of Palestine started fixing the church in 2010. Because of its importance, UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in June 2012. This was the first World Heritage Site listed under Palestine.
The first part of the repair work finished in early 2016. People from Palestine and other countries worked together on the project. They put in new windows and fixed the roof. They also cleaned and repaired the old artworks and mosaics. Even though most people in Palestine are Muslim, they see the church as a national treasure. It is one of their most visited tourist spots.
In July 2016, Italian workers found something amazing. They uncovered a seventh mosaic angel that had been hidden under plaster. They used a special scanning technique to find it. The angel was a wonderful surprise!
The Church of the Nativity site is actually made up of two churches and a crypt (an underground room). The crypt is called the Grotto of the Nativity. This is where tradition says Jesus of Nazareth was born.
Images for kids
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The church and its grounds as they looked in a drawing from 1487
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The Grotto of the Nativity, painted by Luigi Mayer in the late 1700s
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The northern steps leading to the Grotto in the 1880s
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Inside the main church in the 1930s
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The front of the church around 1940
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A map of the Church of the Nativity from 1911. (1) Entrance area; (2) main hall; (3) side areas. The Grotto of the Nativity is right under the front part of the church, with a silver star at its eastern end.
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Inside the church – the northern side areas (left) and the front part (right) – before the latest repairs
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The front part of the church with a golden screen (2019)
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Inside the Grotto of the Nativity, a fourteen-point silver star marks the traditional spot where Jesus was born
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Christmas Eve 2006 in Manger Square, outside the church
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The Door of Humility, which is the main entrance into the Church
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A mosaic floor from the 300s, found again in 1934
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The inside of the Church of the Nativity around 1936, photographed by Lewis Larsson
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An icon of Mary and Jesus ("Mary of Bethleem") near the stairs to the Nativity Grotto
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The upper part of the Altar of the Nativity
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The Altar of the Nativity, with the star below it marking the traditional spot of Jesus' birth
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de la Natividad para niños
