The
town of Bethlehem, known all over the world as the place where Jesus
Christ was born, is today more of a bustling tourist resort than
the holy place you would expect. It is full of tourists, and souvenir
shops, restaurants and bars which are part of the services that
mark the city. Bethlehem and its satellite towns, Beit Sahour and
Beit Jala have many Churches and Religious Institutions, convents,
schools and hospitals. The Greek Orthodox have 15 churches and institutions.
The Roman Catholics have 25. There are 8 Protestant churches. The
Syriac Orthodox have one church and the Greek Catholics have two
churches. The Ethiopians and the Copts have one each. There are
also a number of Mosques; the most important one is the Mosque of
Umar across the square from the Church of the Nativity. This mosque
was established In 1849.
You will find numerous foreign institutions in the
district; some are of a religious nature, and others are not. Among
them are the Holy Family Hospital that belongs to the Knights of
Malta, The Christian Society for the Holy Land Hospital, Efeta Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb, The Children's Village SOS, Caritas Children's
Hospital, Sira (a Swedish Institute for the Handicapped), the Salesians
Technical School and many others.
Location
Modern Bethlehem is an agricultural market and trade
center closely linked to nearby Jerusalem. It lies at a distance
of 10 kms (6 miles) to the south of the Old City of Jerusalem. It
is situated on a mountainous site, 777 meters (2600 feet) above
the level of the Mediterranean Sea and overlooks its surroundings.
Its surface resembles the shape of a semi circle. From the west,
the town of Bethlehem is bounded by the town of Beit Jala and from
the east by the town of Beit Sahour. From the north it is bordered
by Jerusalem and the village of Sur Bahir and from the south by
Solomon's Pools and the villages of al-Khader and Urtas. Forty thousand
live in the administrative limits of the municipality of Bethlehem
and five thousand in the old center of the town. As a symbol of
the increased intermingling of the region's people, beside Arabic,
the native language, English is widely spoken. French, German and
Spanish are spoken too.
Christmas
The
year's highlight in Bethlehem is Christmas. There are actually three
celebrations: the Western observance occurs on December 25, according
to the Gregorian calendar; the Orthodox is celebrated on January
6, according to the older Julian calendar; and finally the Armenian
on January 19.
On these days, the town is festive with lights and banners, and
the churches are full of worshippers and visitors. Carols pour from
loud-speakers in the crowded Manger Square, and brisk trade is done
in the carved olive-wood and mother-of-pearl souvenirs for which
Bethlehem is renowned.
Among the exciting aspects of Bethlehem's Christmas
are the parades of Palestinian scouts through the town of Bethlehem.
They mass in Manger Square to greet each Patriarch on his arrival
from Jerusalem. Some scout processions start from Rachel's tomb
and march to Manger Square. Others gather at Star Square for a shorter
journey to Manger Square. Troops from various sectarian groupings
march together in front of the Patriarchs' processions through the
winding streets of town, with local people and foreign pilgrims,
crowded together. When each Patriarch meets the dignitaries and
then enters the church, the scouts disperse. The climax on Christmas
eve for the Roman Catholics is the elaborate midnight Mass in the
presence of dignitaries and diplomats. Other churches have their
own special services in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. On Christmas day
many people go to the Shepherds' Field Church in Beit Sahour to
attend afternoon prayers in the old subterranean grotto.
Source: Bethlehem
2000: A Guide to Bethlehem and its Surroundings,
by Sawsan Qustandi Shomali, Flam-Druck Wagener GmbH, Waldbrol, 1997.
The
town of Bethlehem, known all over the world as the place where Jesus
Christ was born, is today more of a bustling tourist resort than
the holy place you would expect. It is full of tourists, and souvenir
shops, restaurants and bars which are part of the services that
mark the city. Bethlehem and its satellite towns, Beit Sahour and
Beit Jala have many Churches and Religious Institutions, convents,
schools and hospitals. The Greek Orthodox have 15 churches and institutions.
The Roman Catholics have 25. There are 8 Protestant churches. The
Syriac Orthodox have one church and the Greek Catholics have two
churches. The Ethiopians and the Copts have one each. There are
also a number of Mosques; the most important one is the Mosque of
Umar across the square from the Church of the Nativity. This mosque
was established In 1849.
The
year's highlight in Bethlehem is Christmas. There are actually three
celebrations: the Western observance occurs on December 25, according
to the Gregorian calendar; the Orthodox is celebrated on January
6, according to the older Julian calendar; and finally the Armenian
on January 19. 