The Basilica of the Nativity
"And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)
The present Basilica of the Nativity was built by the
Emperor Justinian (527-565) on the site of the earlier (4th century)
Constantinian basilica, which had been badly damaged in the Samaritan revolt
of 529. The Basilica is dedicated to the Holy Mother of God (Theotokos). The
traditional site of the Nativity is enshrined in the grotto beneath the choir.
During the period of the Crusader kingdoms, when the Crusaders actually controlled the Jerusalem area (1099-1187), the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem was used for royal investiture ceremonies.
The layout of the building is that of a classic
basilica, with narthex, nave, four aisles (two on each side), choir, transepts
and apse. The orientation is east-west, with the apse and sanctuary toward the
east. Monumental stairways on either side of the choir lead down to the Grotto
of the Nativity.
Doorways on the south side of the Basilica lead into
the adjoining Greek and Armenian monasteries; doorways on the north side of
the building lead into the (Roman Catholic) Franciscan Church of St. Catherine
of Alexandria.
The main entrance to the Basilica is from the west.
Two of the original 7th-century doorways have been walled up. The north portal
is masked by a buttress; the south portal by a wall of the adjoining Armenian
monastery. The remaining central portal has been reduced in size several times
and the present low doorway has only 1.2 meters of headway.
The rest of the Basilica is architecturally as it was
at the time of construction, though little remains of either the original or
medieval decorations. Fragments of 12th-century Byzantine mosaics can still be
seen on the upper walls of the nave. Traces of Crusader decoration are also
visible on the pillars separating the aisles in the main body of the church.
The upper portions of these pillars are painted with images of various saints
of the Western and Eastern churches (among those depicted are St. Sabas, St.
Euthymius, St. Olav of Norway, St. Canute of Denmark and St. Cathal of
Ireland).
The roof of the Basilica dates from the 14th century.
Since the Crusades, portions of the church have come
into the possession of the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Roman
Catholic communities. The rights, privileges and possessions of these
communities are protected by the Status Quo of the Holy Places (1852),
as guaranteed in Article LXII of the Treaty of Berlin (1878).
The main body of the Basilica, including the nave,
aisles, katholicon (choir and sanctuary), south transept, and the Altar of the
Nativity in the Grotto are in the possession of the Greek Orthodox.
The Armenian Orthodox have possession of the north
transept and the altar there. They also have use, on occasion, of the Greek
Orthodox altar in the Grotto.
The (Roman Catholic) Latins have exclusive possession
of the Altar of the Adoration of the Magi in the area of the Grotto of the
Nativity known as the "Grotto of the Manger". The Latins also
possess the silver star beneath the adjacent Altar of the Nativity that is
inscribed, "Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est."
Both the Armenians and the Latins have rights of
passage and procession in the Nave.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry |