Bethlehem is such an ancient city that historians cannot determine the exact date of its foundation. It is dated approximately 17-16 centuries BC. The lands where Bethlehem is located belong to the Palestinian Autonomous Region (south of Jerusalem). The city is located on the banks of the Jordan River. In the Bible, he is referred to as Efrat, Bet-Lehem Yehuda. But this name rather refers to the entire area on which modern Bethlehem is now located.
History of Bethlehem: first mention
Finding out where Bethlehem is located, in which country, it is safe to say that in the disputed territory. This part of the land is claimed by Israel and Palestine. Periodically arising conflicts confirm this. For now, the peace deal keeps the city in Palestinian possession.
The area of the city is 5.4 square kilometers. This small territory has been conquered many times over the centuries. The first mentions date back to the 17-16 centuries BC in connection with the birth of King David and his anointing to the kingdom by the prophet Samuel.
Basilica and the Crusades
In 326, the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ was built, and from that moment a series of wars began for the right to own Bethlehem, which is associated with the Christian world and has become one of the symbols of faith. In 1095 Pope Urban II organized the first Crusade to conquer and liberate Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem from Muslim rule. The goal was reached in 1099. In the wake of the victories, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was organized, it lasted until 1291.
Ottoman Period
From the beginning of the 16th to the 20th century, Bethlehem, the Holy Land, Jerusalem were part of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the Muslim possession, pilgrims got to the Holy places freely. But in 1831-41, access to Bethlehem was closed by Muhammad Ali (Egyptian Khedive), who controlled the city for ten years.
Russia entered the Crimean War with the Ottoman Empire in 1853-1856, the reason was the refusal to provide the Russian Empire with the leadership of Christian churches in the Holy Land.
Recent 20th century
In 1922, after the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, Bethlehem came under the protectorate of Britain. The city came under UN jurisdiction in 1947, and in 1948 Jerusalem and Bethlehem were captured by the Jordanians. From 1967 until 1995, the city was under Israeli control. As a result of negotiations in 1995, it was given to the Palestinian Authority, where it remains to this day.
Road to Bethlehem
The Palestinian Authority in the part where Bethlehem is located is one of the most visited places in the world. The city has never played a prominent role in the life of the region. Its value is on a different plane: the birth of great people in this area, a series of events that took place in the mists of time and determined modern cultural and spiritual life.
Ancient dates are difficult to determine, but the first landmark of revered places is on the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem - this is the tomb of Rachel. The name of this woman is mentioned in the Old Testament as the beloved wife of the forefather Isaac. The grave is an object of Jewish pilgrimage. Everything intersects in this area: Rachel's resting place is located in the middle of a Bedouin cemetery, where Muslims flock to honor the memory of their ancestors.
Bible King
In the place where Bethlehem is located, one of the most famous kings, David, was born. There he was anointed king. David united the lands of Israel, conquered and annexed Jerusalem, made it the capital of his kingdom. In Jerusalem, David's son Solomon built a temple revered by all Jews.
In connection with the name of David, his great-grandmother Ruth is often mentioned. She entered the biblical annals because of her holiness and love for her mother-in-law. To feed the elderly woman, Ruth gathered ears of corn in the fields around Bethlehem, left over from the reapers who worked for her future husband. Several centuries will pass, and over the same fields the words of the Angels will sound, trumpeting the Nativity of Christ. This place now wearsThe name "Shepherds' Field" refers to the small town of Beit Sahur.
Main attraction
The very place where the city of Bethlehem is located, its history is shrouded in mystery. You can trace the oldest part of historical events based on controversial sources and archeology. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, which determined the main value of this city in the eyes of believers and historians. In connection with the location of the cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the city acquired world significance. For the shrine, Christians fought with Muslims for many centuries. Crusade conquests gave way to Eastern kings. The history around the Shrine knows many bloody battles.
In 326, by order of the Empress of Byzantium, Elena, the Basilica of the Nativity was erected over the Cave of the Nativity. In 529, the temple suffered significant damage from the Samaritans, who rebelled against Byzantine rule. Having suppressed the uprising, Emperor Justinian restored the basilica, expanding the premises of the temple.
From 1517 until the end of the First World War, the entire Holy Land, including Bethlehem, belonged to the Ottoman Empire. However, the entrance to the Shrine was not closed to pilgrims, each believer could come to worship without obstacles. However, the path was not safe.
In 1995, thanks to negotiations, the place where Bethlehem is located came under the rule of the Palestinian Authority. So a small historical city became the center of a small province.
Christian enclave
CityBethlehem is where Muslims and Christians coexist peacefully. Until recently (50 years ago) the city was almost completely Orthodox, but now the number of believers of Christian denominations has declined.
The main place of the Orthodox world - the Church of the Nativity has a vast territory. Three monasteries adjoin directly to the shrine: Orthodox, Armenian and Franciscan. The temple is owned by three confessions, only Orthodox priests have the right to conduct services behind the main altar.
The heart of the temple is under the altar. You need to go down to it along the ancient stairs, reaching the grotto, in the floor you can see a silver star, which means the place where Christ was born. This is the main goal of the pilgrimage of Christians around the world. For the opportunity to touch the shrine, believers make long journeys.
The temple itself is also remarkable. Built many centuries ago from unhewn stone, it keeps ancient architecture and looks more like a fortress, always ready to defend and protect its pilgrims and attendants. Recent restoration work allows you to see in some places the mosaic floor, made during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Remains of mosaic decoration are visible on the walls, there is also a painting. The painted images of the Saints amaze the imagination and enhance the feelings of believers visiting the temple. The sixteen columns supporting the vault date from the fifteenth century and date back to the Crusader period. They are decorated with paintings, but it is already difficult to see.
Christianshrines
Bethlehem, where the cave of the Nativity is located, has several more biblical sites. They are of interest not only to believing pilgrims, but also to those who care about history. Here you can find or refute certain theories. Many women make a pilgrimage to the Milk Grotto. The walls inside are white. According to legend, in this grotto Mary and Joseph with the newborn Christ hid from Herod's soldiers for forty days.
Not far from the Church of the Nativity is another memorable biblical place - the Cave of the Bethlehem Babies. According to legend, women hid their sons in it, but could not save them. By order of King Herod, about 14 thousand (according to various sources) male infants were killed. Herod gave the order to exterminate the children because of the prediction that a boy would be born, the future king of the Jews and would overthrow him. In the depths of the cave there is a small church built in a system of catacombs. This is the oldest Christian building of the surviving shrines, dating back to the sixth century.
Other attractions
Also in the vicinity of Bethlehem are Solomon's ponds - huge reservoirs for collecting fresh water. The water in them came by self-flow, and the system is so perfect that it still admires today. They are still used for their intended purpose for irrigating fields.
Also, a curious traveler can visit Herodium - a city built by King Herod on a man-made mountain. The hill rises above the city, reminding of the perishability of great civilizations. It was believed that the mountain is a tombthe king himself, but the excavations carried out in 2005 disappointed the adherents of this theory. The sarcophagus was found, but no remains were found in it.
Our days
Modernity affects the life of the city, but basically all events are connected with the spiritual value of the events that took place here. Today, Bethlehem, where there are about 25,000 inhabitants, is open to everyone. People visit it both for the sake of curiosity and for spiritual purposes. The conflict between Israel and Palestine, slowly smoldering in this region, does not interfere with visiting the places where Bethlehem is located.
The city has never had many people. Since ancient times, the measured way of life of the townspeople has been preserved. All infrastructure, services and small-scale production are focused in development on pilgrims and tourists. Most of the population are Palestinians who profess Islam. They are home to about 80-85 percent of the total population of the city. The rest of the residents are Christians of various denominations.
The place where Bethlehem (the country of Palestine) is located is being protected from military conflicts, because tourists bring the main profit. Dependence on the tourist flow makes the Palestinians enterprising, handicrafts, trade and other types of business flourish.
Safe visit
Many claim that the city of Bethlehem in Israel is the hometown of Jesus Christ. This is true regarding the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem and deceit regarding the city's belonging to Israel. Bethlehem belongs to the Palestinianautonomy and from Jerusalem is a two-hour drive. You can enter the city through the checkpoint. Quite often you have to stand in line, this is due to the influx of pilgrims and checking documents.
No special permits for entry are required: only the usual marks of a foreign citizen in the passport. Checkpoints are periodically closed for several days, due to the tense situation in Palestinian-Israeli relations. But in general, the situation is calmest in this part of the border between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
If you are going to visit the city to explore the sights or make a pilgrimage, the best option would be the way: the city of Bethlehem - Israel. Detailed information about the city will allow every tourist to navigate it, so get a map of Bethlehem in advance.
