Nativity Church
(Arabic inscription preceedes English inscription)
The oldest church in use, the Nativity Church is home to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Byzantine Queen Helena inaugurated the construction of a Basilica at the Nativity in 339 A.D. at the site where the Roman Emperor Hadrian had built a shrine dedicated to Adonis. The Basilica was destroyed and rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in 531 A.D. and reinforced to its present fortress shape by Tancrea in 1169 A.D. During Ottoman rule, the main entrance was reduced to the existing small door in order to prevent horsemen from entering the church while riding.
The whole complex includes Greek and Armenian monasteries, the Church of Saint Catherine, the cloister of Saint Jerome; in the basement of the Basilica are monastic caves, and the Grotto of the Nativity.
Marker can be reached from Wad Ma'Ali Street south of Manger Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
