Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, seen from the square in front of it, is a fortress-like building on whose facade the pediment at the end of the nave can be distinguished only on close inspection. The central doorway shows the work of many centuries. The original door surround can be seen, as can the relief-decorated architrave and supporting consoles of the sixth century Justinianic church. The Crusaders reduced the size of the entrance, inserting a doorway with a pointed arch and walling up the upper part of the original doorway. The size of the doorway was later still further reduced in order to prevent the Mamelukes from riding into the church on horseback. It is now only 1.20m/4ft high, so that visitors must bend down to enter the church. The interior has essentially preserved the tranquil monumentality of the sixth century. The view towards the east end is unimpeded since the tall screen erected by the Greeks between the nave and choir was taken down on General Allenby's orders in 1917.