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, Beth-Lehem Yehuda. But this name, rather, refers to the entire area on which modern Bethlehem is now located.
History of Bethlehem: First mentioned
Finding out where Bethlehem is located, in which country, it is safe to say that in the disputed territory. Israel and Palestine are claiming this part of the earth. Periodically arising conflicts are proof of this. So far, a peace agreement has kept the city in Palestinian ownership.
The area of the city is 5.4 square kilometers. This small territory has been conquered repeatedly 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 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, associated with the Christian world and which became 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 achieved 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, and Jerusalem were part of the Ottoman Empire. Despite Muslim possession, pilgrims fell into the holy places freely. But in 1831-41, access to Bethlehem was closed by Muhamed Ali (the Egyptian Khedive), under whose control the city was 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, he was given to the Palestinian Authority, where he is 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 lies on a different plane: the birth of great people in this locality, a series of events that took place in the depths of centuries and determined modern cultural and spiritual life.
Ancient dates are difficult to determine, but the first landmark of the venerated 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 pilgrimage for the Jews. Everything intersects in this area: Rachel's resting place is located in the middle of a Bedouin cemetery, where Muslims flock to honor their ancestors.
Bible king
In the place where Bethlehem is located, one of the most famous kings was born - David. There he was anointed to the kingdom. David united the lands of Israel, conquered and annexed Jerusalem, made it the capital of his kingdom. In Jerusalem, the son of David 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 an elderly woman, Ruth gathered the ears of corn in the fields around Bethlehem, which remained after the reapers who worked for her future husband. Several centuries will pass, and over the same fields the words of the Angels who have trumpeted the Nativity of Christ will be heard . This place is now called the "Field of Shepherds" and 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 secrets. The oldest part of historical events can be traced back to 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 presence of the Christmas cave in Bethlehem, the city gained world significance. For the shrine, Christians fought with Muslims for many centuries. The conquest of the cross gave way to the eastern kings. The story around the Shrine knows many bloody battles.
In 326, at the behest of the Empress of Byzantium Helen over the Christmas cave, the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ was erected. In 529, the temple suffered significant damage by the Samaritans, who rebelled against Byzantine rule. Suppressing the uprising, Emperor Justinian restored the basilica, expanding the premises of the temple.
From 1517 until the end of World War I, the entire Holy Land, including Bethlehem, belonged to the Ottoman Empire. However, the entrance to the Shrine was not closed to the pilgrims, each believer could come to worship without obstacles. However, the path was unsafe.
In 1995, thanks to negotiations, the place where Bethlehem was located passed under the rule of the Palestinian Authority. So a small historical city became the center of a small province.
Christian enclave
The city of Bethlehem is where Muslims and Christians peacefully coexist. Until recently (50 years ago) the city was almost completely Orthodox, but now the number of Christian faiths has declined.
The main place of the Orthodox world - the Church of the Nativity of Christ has a vast territory. Three monasteries adjoin the shrine directly: Orthodox, Armenian and Franciscan. The church is owned by three faiths, only Orthodox priests have the right to conduct services at the main altar.
The heart of the temple is under the altar. It is necessary to go down to it along an ancient staircase, having reached 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 uncouth stone, it preserves ancient architecture and looks more like a fortress, always ready for the defense and defense of its pilgrims and ministers. Recent restoration work allows you to see in some places the mosaic floor, made under the emperor Justinian. The remains of the mosaic decoration are visible on the walls, there is also a painting. The written 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.
Christian shrines
Bethlehem, where the cave of the Nativity is located, has several biblical places. They are interesting not only to believing pilgrims, but also to whom history is important. Here you can find or refute certain theories. Many women make a pilgrimage to the Milk Grotto. Inside it, the walls are white. According to legend, in this grotto, Mary and Joseph with the newborn Christ hid from the soldiers of Herod for forty days.
Not far from the Temple of the Nativity of Christ is another memorable biblical place - the cave of Bethlehem babies. According to legend, in it, women hid their sons, but could not save them. By order of King Herod, about 14 thousand (according to various sources) male babies were killed. Herod gave the order to exterminate the children because of the prediction that the boy would be born, the future king of Judea and would overthrow him. In the depths of the cave there is a small church built in the catacomb system. This is the oldest Christian building from the surviving shrines dates from the sixth century.
Other attractions
Also in the vicinity of Bethlehem are the ponds of Solomon - huge reservoirs for collecting fresh water. Water flowed into them by themselves, and the system is so perfect that it delights even today. They are still used for their intended purpose for field irrigation.
Also, a curious traveler can visit Herodion - a city built by King Herod on a man-made mountain. The hill rises above the city, recalling the perishability of great civilizations. It was believed that the mountain is the tomb of the king himself, but 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 course of a city’s life, but basically all the events are connected with the spiritual value of the events that took place here. Today, Bethlehem, where there are about 25,000 thousand inhabitants, is open to all comers. People visit him both for the sake of curiosity, and for a spiritual purpose. The conflict between Israel and Palestine, slowly smoldering in this region, does not interfere with visiting places where Bethlehem is located.
The city has never been inhabited by many people. From antiquity, a measured way of life of citizens was preserved. All infrastructure, services and small-scale production are focused on the development of pilgrims and tourists. The majority of the population are Palestinians who profess Islam. They live about 80-85 percent of the total population of the city. The remaining inhabitants are Christians of various faiths.
They try to protect the place where Bethlehem (the country of Palestine) is located from military conflicts, because the main profit is brought by tourists. Dependence on tourist flows makes Palestinians entrepreneurial; crafts, trade, and other businesses flourish.
Safe visit
Many argue that the city of Bethlehem in Israel is the hometown of Jesus Christ. This is true in terms of the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem and deceit in the belonging of the city to Israel. Bethlehem belongs to the Palestinian Authority and is a two-hour drive from Jerusalem. You can get to the city through a checkpoint. Quite often you have to stand in line, this is due to the influx of pilgrims and verification of documents.
They do not require any special permissive papers for entry: only the usual marks of a foreign citizen in the passport. Checkpoints are periodically closed for several days, due to the tense situation of Palestinian-Israeli relations. But in general, in this part of the border of the Palestinian Authority and Israel, the situation is most calm.
If you intend 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 each tourist to navigate in it, so get a map of Bethlehem in advance.