CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY and GROTTO OF THE NATIVITY

THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY in Bethlehem was built over the grotto where the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. To enter the Church the visitors need to go through small and narrow doors and bow themselves in the respect of the place where God humbled Himself and became a human.

Small steps in the church lead down to the GROTTO OF THE NATIVITY. The biggest part of the church is run by the Greek Orthodox Church and smaller parts by the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. Thus, Christmas in the Church of Nativity is celebrated in line with the Julian Calendar on 7 January, not on 25 December.

UNESCO listed the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as a World Heritage Site.