BETHLEHEM (PS)
Bethlehem, Arabic Bayt Laḥm (“House of Meat”), Hebrew Bet Leḥem (“House of Bread”), is a town in the West Bank, situated in the Judaean Hills just 8 km south of the city of Jerusalem. In 1950, Bethlehem and the surrounding villages were 86% Christian. But by 2016, the Christian population dipped to just 12%, according Bethlehem mayor Vera Baboun. Across the West Bank, Christians now account for less than 2% of the population. In Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, today there are just 11,000 Christians.

BETHLEHEM’S HISTORY
This little town had a long history even before it became known as the site of Jesus Christ’s birth. According to the Gospels Bethlehem was the site of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Christian theology has linked this with the belief that his birth there fulfills the Old Testament prophecy of Israel’s future ruler coming from Bethlehem Ephrathah. In the Bible the city is often referred to as Bethlehem Ephrathah, or Bethlehem-Judah. Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Rachel, who died on the wayside near there.

MY OPINION
Not only for a Christian but for every person on this planet, the word Bethlehem will definitely say something. I believe it is a place that everyone would like to visit in their life and that is why my recommendations and suggestions are not needed. I have visited this holy little town too many times in my life. However, I had last visited it many years ago and did so again very recently just before a few days. I wouldn’t say I saw any big differences, but I saw progress being made. New hotel units, open shops, people smiling and living and many foreign visitors visiting the church of the Nativity but also the Manger Square and the streets of the town. I will not tell you to visit it, I think it is a must visit for each of us.

MUST SEE – The Church of the Nativity
The church of the Nativity of Jesus was identified by St. Justin Martyr, a 2nd-century Christian apologist, as a manger in “a cave close to the village”; the cave, now under the nave of the Church of the Nativity in the heart of the town, has been continuously venerated by Christians since then. St. Helena (c. 248–c. 328), mother of the first Christian Roman emperor (Constantine I), had a church built over the cave; later destroyed, it was rebuilt in substantially its present form by Emperor Justinian (reigned 527–565). The Church of the Nativity is thus one of the oldest Christian churches extant. The church was later divided between the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Orthodox faiths.

PLACES TO VISIT

1. MILK GROTTO CHAPEL
A short walk from Manger Square is the lesser-known Milk Grotto Chapel. Legend has it that Mary and Joseph stopped here to feed the baby during their flight to Egypt; a drop of milk touched the red rock, turning it white.

2. THE SOUQ
Bethlehem souq dates back to 1929 and is located in the heart of the city’s central square: It has a range of fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, junk, shoes and some mighty tasty snacks. Known to locals as the Green Market.