This is a typical village scene
in the area around Bethlehem.
The town of Bethlehem sits on a hillside not far from
Jerusalem. In fact, many people live in Bethlehem and work in
Jerusalem.
The Church of the Nativity was constructed
over an extended period of time with different Christian groups
identifying
different spots as the birthplace of Jesus. It was not until
Constantine's mother came to the area on a pilgrimage in the fourth
century that many of the "holy places" were
designated. The view above is from Manger
Square. The picture to the left shows the low arched doorways.
The silver star in the interior of the Church
of the Nativity marks the traditional spot of
Jesus' birth, according to some traditions.
