Huntsmans in the Holy Land: Final Trip to Bethlehem

Going to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, is always a welcome and wonderful trip. In some ways it is a bit difficult, because it is in "Area A" of the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority has full civil and security control, so getting there involves checkpoints, and we are always accompanied by some of our own center security to act as liaisons.

Everything went quite smoothly, though the visit was a bit bittersweet, because I realized that it would be the last time I would be going there (on this trip, at least). We go home in five weeks, which is hard to believe after having been here almost a year.

As usual, we began with a historical and archaeological site, the Herodion. We then went to Manger Square to visit the Basilica of the Nativity, St. Catherine's, and the ancient cave systems under the church. We then added a visit to Kenisat er-Ruwat, the Orthodox church in Bayt Sahour that commemorates the annunciation to the Shepherds. After lunch at the Tent Restaurant, we went to Khirbet Siyar el-Ghanem, the Catholic Shepherds Field after which we went to the open hillside north of Bethlehem and south of Har Homa to the site favored by Latter-day Saints to recall the fields where the shepherds were "abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8)

I have described these sites and posted many pictures in the past:

I am rather pressed for time today, so with the exception of a few details about the Orthodox and Catholic churches "at shepherds fields," I will, for the most past, simply post pictures of each site with my Summer 2012 students.

Herodion

The Herodion was a fortress and palace on an artificially expanded conical hilltop

Artist's depiction of the Herodion in its heyday

Looking down from the top at the Lower Palace

My class posing on the "island" in the massive swimming pool of the Lower Palace

Layout of the fortress/Upper Palace

Candid of Dr. Harper's class in the Upper Palace

My class in a posed pic in the Upper Palace

My class in the formal dining hall, that later Jewish rebels transformed into a synagogue . . . that is why the women and the men are divided!

Some of my students being gargoyles (?) in the water tunnels

Manger Square

Meeting our guide, Jalaab

The Basilica of the Nativity is the oldest, continually-in-use church in the world

Entering the small door, reduced three times in its history

In the Roman Catholic church of St. Catherine's, next to to Basilica of the Nativity. This is the place from which the Catholic Christmas Eve mass is broadcast each year

Stained glass window of the Nativity

The cave system beneath the churches. From the earliest years of Christianity, tradition has held that Jesus was born somewhere in these caves.

Rachel and I in the faves near the Grotto of St. Jerome

My students singing as part of our devotional

Inside the Basilica of the Nativity

Steve and his students waiting in line to descend into the grotto below the altar

Rachel in line to go down into the grotto to see the traditional birth place

Rachel about to end the grotto

With Rachel by the 14-pointed star that marks the traditional spot of Jesus' birth

Rachel by the altar marking the spot where Mary lay the Baby Jesus in the manger

My students in the basilica

The mosaic of the earlier fourth century basilica below the floor of the current church, which was built in the sixth century

A bit of Palestinian propaganda in Manger Square

Before refugees from elsewhere in Palestine flooded into Bethlehem after the 1948-49 War, Bethlehem was a majority Christian Arab city

Kenisat er-Ruwat (Orthodox Shepherds Field)

Egeria, a European pilgrim who wrote about her A.D. 381–384 visit to the Holy Land, recorded that there was a cave east of Bethlehem called "At the Shepherds." At her time, a church had already been established in the cave, which may well be the one on the grounds of Kenisat er-Ruwat. Three different churches were built in succession over the cave. While these now lie in ruin, a new church has been built nearby.

Entering the cave of the Shepherds

The Greek on the sign reads, "Cave of the Shepherds and their Tomb, the Sanctuary of St. Helena"

Inside the cave of the shepherds

This window in the floor of the cave shows an early mosaic cross, which dates the mosaic to before A.D. 427

Remains of some of the early basilicas

The modern church of Kenisat er-Ruwat

The Tent Restaurant

Khirbet Siyar el-Ghanem (Catholic Shepherds Field)

The modern church of Khirbet Siyar el-Ghanem is designed to look like a shepherd's tent

Looking out at the hills of Judea below Khirbet Siyar el-Ghanem

LDS Shepherds Field

Even though it was hot sitting out on a dry, summer hillside, being on an open hillside looking over at Bethlehem was a moving experience. We read from Luke 2 and spoke of the Annunciation to and Adoration of the Shepherds. We then sang 7 or 8 Christmas carols. It was a wonderful time.