Come to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, one of the major tourist attractions of Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is counted as the oldest one in the holy land which is still in use. The church also commemorates the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It was believed that the since St. Helena have played the vital role in building the Church of the Nativity, the Emperor Constantine ordered to built the monumental churches as a mark of honor to the three principal events of Jesus' life.
The construction of Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem began in 326 AD. It is believed that the architects and the craftsmen built up the same structure as the caves in which Jesus Christ was born. These caves were lying at the end of the village and were carved out with the similar designs with the special architectural and devotional requirements. The caves were divided into four rows of monolithic columns adding to the beauty of the place and adding a different charm of the place.
The construction of the church was filled with the usage of the various mosaics, frescoes, marbles, along with the silver manger which replaces the clay manger. The present day church was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian. The church has stood the test of time which also saw the heavy damage of the monument in 529 AD. After the restoration a new pavement was built at a higher level. The church also witnessed certain changes in the 12th century when the crusaders came and built a monastery in the northern side of the landmark.
During the years 1165 and 1169, the Byzantine Empire and the Frankish Kingdom together came forward for another restoration work which covered the walls and the floors of the church with marbles and new mosaic. The entrances of the church were given the present day look. The beauty of the place is punctuated by the architecture of the church which truly makes it a stand alone structure in the town of Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem is truly an amazing Bethlehem Tourist Attractions attracting the tourists for a long period of time.
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