Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity, or Basilica of the Nativity, is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the West Bank. The grotto it contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus.

It was originally commissioned by Constantine the Great a short time after his mother Helena visit to the site in 325 - 326 on the site that was traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.That original basilica was likely built between 330–333, being already mentioned in 333, and was dedicated on 31 May 339.It was destroyed by fire during the Samaritan revolts possibly 529.And a new basilica was built a number of years later by Byzantine Emperor Justinian however has remained unchanged except for repairs and a few additions such as the surrrounding compound that covers over 12000 square meters comprising three different Monasteries Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic.

The silver star marking the spot where Christ was born, inscribed in Latin, was stolen in October 1847 by Greek monks who wished to remove this Catholic item. Some assert that this was a contributing factor in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire.Others assert that the war grew out of the wider European situation

The Holy site known as the Nativity Grotto is thought to be the cave in which Jesus was born. Emperor Hadrian in 135 had the site above the grotto converted to a place of worship for Adonis the mortal lover for Aphrodite Greek goddess of beauty and desire.Jerome noted in 420 that the Grotto had been consecrated to the worship of Adonis and that a sacred grove was planted there to completely wipe out the memory of Jesus

Some modern scholars disput this argument and insist that the cult of Adonis-Tammuz originated the shrine and that it was the Christians who took it over,