| In Bethlehem we visited the Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in the world still in use. From the outside, the church looked more like a fortress. Inside, the church was shared by five different sects of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, and Egyptian Coptic Orthodox - each with its own area of worship. Inside, steps led down to the Grotto (or Cave) of the Nativity where a silver star marked the place of Jesus� birth. |
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| Afterwards we visited the Shepherd�s Field just outside Bethlehem. Here there was a cave similar to the one the shepherds used for shelter the night Jesus was born. Just recently supports have had to be installed to support the cave. Outside the cave was a stone manger like that used for Jesus. Even now, shepherds still pasture their flocks around Bethlehem, and as we drove out of Bethlehem late that afternoon toward our hotel in Jerusalem we saw some shepherds with their sheep off to the side of the road. |
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