Church of the Nativity
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Note the Bethlehem Cross at upper right.
"The large Church of the Nativity, erected over the traditional birthplace of Christ, lies in the E. part of the town ... The assertion that the present church is the original structure is based on the simplicity of its style and the absence of characteristics of the buildings of the subsequent era of Justinian. Other authorities consider it beyond question that the building underwent considerable restoration in the days of Justinian (527-565). In any case, it is not only extremely old, but specially interesting as an example of the earliest Christian style of architecture. ... In front of the principal entrance on the W. side lies a large paved space, in which traces of the former atrium of Constantine‘s basilica have been discovered".--Baedeker (1912)
IMG00625p1
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without... ... read more 
