We spent our first day after arriving in Jerusalem not in Jerusalem but in the formerly little town and now city of Bethlehem.
Bethlehem, of course, is famous as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is one of the most important places in the entire Christendom.
Present day Bethlehem, however, is a big and curious contradiction. This very place where Christianity was born is rife with conflict. The city’s residents are predominantly Muslim. The city itself is actually a Palestinian territory. This is underscored by the ominous wall that surrounds the city, not so much to prevent the outside world from freely entering it but to contain those that are inside.
The biggest attraction to Christian pilgrims is the Nativity Church. Built on top of the very spot believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ and the manger where the Holy Family supposedly stayed (as there was available inn), the Nativity Church is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world.
