Character the austere and simple Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem , one of the most important sites of Christianity, in contrast to the current holiday paraphernalia -great lighting arrangements, special decorations, giant and increasingly original trees and decorations winter (although ironically, in places like my country is summer) of shopping centers in an era devoted to consumption.
believe that the Church of the Nativity is of great importance, the reader is a believer or not, because of its historic architectural value (one of the oldest churches in the Byzantine style), for being a conspicuous example of the relationship between architecture and the symbolic value of religious manifestations. This delivery will seek to focus on both aspects.
Church of the Nativity in the 1920s ON BETHLEHEM Bethlehem or Bethlehem , whose name literally means "House of Flesh" is a historic city in Palestine, located about 8 km from Jerusalem, the de facto capital of Israel. Surrounded by arid hills, with typical desert climate, Bethlehem has grown into a major Palestinian city.
Bethlehem view from the tower of the Church of the Nativity (1862) 
Bethlehem today. Ironically, not in the cradle of Christianity most people profess the Islamic religion. Belecino urban landscape is populated by minarets as more than church steeples, and we may have to update that Carol " Bethlehem Bells."
Historically Bethlehem has been a destination of pilgrimages and religious disputed, it is next Jerusalem, considered a sacred place of great importance. In fact both cities have been linked by their history, geographical setting and symbolism, recognized by three religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Only recently this union between Jerusalem and Bethlehem has been fractured by the so-called "Wall of Shame", a barrier that divides Israel and Palestine and whose brutal stabbing appears as a scar on the beautiful landscape ocher land of Judea.
Come, shepherds, come, come to Bethlehem ... but first we have to cross the strict and unfriendly control in the Israeli-Palestinian border. PLACE OF BIRTH OF CHRIST
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke mention Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, but do not require an exact location, even for references. Only indicates that Christ Lucas was born in a manger because there was no room at the inn " (Lk 2:7 ) How can we know that the church stands on the birthplace of Christ?
There are two tracks for it. The first is the apocryphal Gospel of St. James , son of Zebedee, which specifies Jesus was born in a cave, which makes sense since there were many caves in the area were annexed to houses, where livestock is often kept.
The second coming of the Emperor Hadrian (76-138 AD), who had built a shrine honoring the Roman god Adonis in the cave that the early Christians venerated as the place where Jesus would be born. When you try to suppress this new religion, in fact underlined the place trying to hide (although some argue that it was the Christians who took to the temple of Adonis for his own religion).
But the truth is that no specific records that this has been the precise location of the birth of Christ, unlike the Golgotha \u200b\u200bin Jerusalem, which shows more clearly the place of his crucifixion. It is impossible to affirm or deny that indeed the birthplace of Christ is the one marked on the Church of the Nativity, nor is it impossible to prove that Jesus was born on December 24, but what marks this building is more important than its location exact geographical or chronological accuracy. It is then that the basilica becomes important as a symbolic site and its architecture has provided a framework that marks a significant event for millions of people throughout history. In the words of Geoffrey Broadbent, meaning becomes more important than significant.
Sketch of the Church of the Nativity in 1925. CHURCH HISTORY
In 326, St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of a church over the cave, culminating in 339. It was a small octagonal building with an area of \u200b\u200b4 m in diameter in the center, where was a cave revered as the birthplace of Christ.
That first church mosaics are still visible, illustrating the genealogy of Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew, in addition to floral and geometric compositions.
A fire destroyed that church, so that in 530 Justinian built the current basilica.
In 614 the Moors invaded and razed Bethlehem, but the church was saved, it is said that because the Islamists were moved by the representation of the three wise men in Persian attire (the wise men were followers of general Zarathustra, a prophet Persian drove one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world and greatly influenced Judaism during the exile in Babylon.)
Church of the Nativity in 1947, the creation of the state of Israel. The church flourished again during the invasion of the Crusaders, a time when the interior was redecorated. However, it deteriorated during the occupation of the Mamelukes and Ottomans.
Since 1852 the custody of the church is in charge of the Greek Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic and Armenia.
DISTRIBUTION All of the Nativity is located atop a hill and consists, in addition to the basilica, three convents.
front of the church there is a large plaza with an atrium, called the Manger Square, which is usually flooded with people during Christmas celebrations.
The basilica itself is a rectangular building with three circular apses that give the shape of a cross. Here are the main altar in the background and the altars of the Virgin and the Circumcision on the sides. Upon entering, we get a narthex, a sort of inner court was added after the building of the temple and in general is a transitional space between the exterior and the sacred space of the church.
A curious detail is that income is a small opening, called the Door of Humility. Formerly in Byzantine times the entry was made in an arcade, but during Ottoman times were reduced entry to prevent the infidels from entering the church horse.
Inside, the nave is divided into five islands defined by 4 rows of 11 columns each. The main space at higher elevations suggests an air of monumentality into space while allowing the entry of light, while the lateral spaces offer a more intimate level, conducive to the gathering of pilgrims.
Interior of the Church of the Nativity in 1867 columns are decorated with figures of saints, made in the twelfth century during the rule of the Crusaders, but are obscured by the passage of time . Some of the figures include those of canonized kings, like Canute, king of England in 1017 and St. Olaf, King of Norway in 1016. Furthermore, in the lower parts of the columns there are many graffiti, made by pilgrims over the centuries.
Details of the columns of the nave. 
Altar of the Virgin, one of the lateral semicircular apses The wooden roof corresponds to the fifteenth century and originally was covered with lead, both donated by King Edward IV of England. Unfortunately the lead was cast by the Turks to make munitions during its war against the Venetians, and today the roof is in poor condition.
Since it is an Orthodox church, it is obvious the presence of a iconostasis, a wall is decorated with icons, located opposite the altar.
But undoubtedly the most important element church on the Grotto of the Nativity, located behind the altar and is in charge of the Orthodox Church. To this was down stairs, semicircular, giving way to a narrow passage.
Given the large number of pilgrims visiting the cave lasts just seconds, maybe a minute, before an Orthodox priest hurried us out. Inside, a marble-covered space, is located a silver star marking the spot where it says Jesus was born, and bearing the inscription Hic Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est .
theft in 1853 of the Silver Star was an important factor in the outbreak of the Crimean War between Fracia, the Ottomans and Russia. Other outbuildings include the Chapel of St. Jerome, who was the one who translated the Old Testament into Latin, and the church of Santa Catalina, by Catholics.
Details of the chapel of St. Jerome. 
This bas-relief called The Tree of Jesse is a work of Polish sculptor Czesław Dźwigaj and is located in the related Church of Santa Catalina, which was a gift from Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the Holy Land.
*** Dear reader (a) is the occasion for saludarl @ cordially for Christmas, wishing you success and good wishes for 2011.
Junzo, Jan, My Parents and Emily. Thank you very much for Joining us DURING Our visit to Bethlehem. Thank you very much for joining us on our visit to Bethlehem. 
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