History
The Church of the Nativity in the heart of Bethlehem marks one of Christianity's most sacred sites - the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Situated on Manger Square 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Jerusalem, the church is built over a grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. The site has been venerated by Christians since St. Justin Martyr identified it as the site of Jesus' birth in the second century. It is the oldest Church in the Holy Land still in use and one of the oldest churches in the world.
The church's large fortress-like exterior stands as a testament to its turbulent history. For centuries, it was one of the most fought over holy places. It was seized and defended by a succession of armies - including Muslim and Crusader forces. The first Church was built over the Grotto of the Nativity in the 4th century AD under the patronage of Emperor Constantine's mother Helena, but it was later destroyed. In the 6th century, Byzantine Emperor Justinian built a new and more elaborate church on the site, and the present structure is basically the same as it was then. When the Persians invaded in 614, they left the church intact, legend has it, because they were moved by a painting inside of the Nativity story depicting the Wise Men of the East in Persian clothes. In the 11th century crusaders renovated the church. According to my Rough Guide to Israel, control of the church has more than once led to physical warfare, most significantly when Napoleon III declared the entire complex French property in 1852 -- an act that brought him into conflict with Russia, which supported the rights of the Eastern Orthodox Church. King Edward IV of England donated wood from English oak trees for the ceiling. He also contributed lead to cover the roof, but that was taken by the Turks, who melted it down to use as ammunition in a war.
Old Nativity Church photo. Looks
almost the same today.
(Source and exact date unknown to me)
Today
If all of that was clear, let's introduce a little confusion. Today the church is controlled jointly by three Christian denominations - the Armenian Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. 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). (I just knew you wanted to know that.)
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. Both the Armenians and the Latins have rights of passage and procession in the Nave.
Speaking recently, the current Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and head of the Catholic church in the region, Michel Sabbah, described the church's basilica as a "place of refuge for everyone". He added that this meant Israelis as well as Palestinians. (Of course, it might be interesting to note that the Latins don't control very much of the church.) For the record, I go along with the patriarch -- churches should be more inclusive and less exclusive.
