The Holy Soil is taken from the bent of the eastern Bethlehem hill – near the crypt where Jesus was born by Saint Mary and placed in a manger. Taken from the Bethlehem hill, the soil was brought to the Holy Crypt (over which The Church of the Nativity was built as early as antiquity) and hollowed just near Christ the Savior’s birthplace, marked by 14-rays star, and near the stone manger where he was placed after the birth.   The Holy Soil is put in the grey linen sack with the inscription “Relics of Israel”.   Price: $90.00 (shipping by Airmail - Free)

 

Bethlehem. The birthplace of Jesus Christ.

 

Bethlehem (which literally means in Hebrew -“The House of Bread”) – is a city practically adjoining the south of Jerusalem (situated at the territory of Palestine Autonomy). Nowadays the distance from the municipal boundary of Jerusalem to the entrance to Bethlehem is about 500 meters. From the ancient times the name “Bethlehem” was added with “Judaic” or “Ephrath” (in translation from the Hebrew – “fertile”), to distinguish from another Bethlehem – Galilean.

 

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

 

 

A view to Bethlehem from afar is very beautiful. Situated among the fertile fields, surrounded by hills from all sides, stretched out as amphitheatre between two hills (from western to eastern), Bethlehem is really one of the most charming places of Holy Land. What a great number of Holy-Historical recollections is connected with it! It is a place where Rachel died and was buried. Her Tomb stands at the exit from the city to Jerusalem. In the old days Ruth gleaned the Bethlehem fields here. Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, the second King of Israel, and the place where he was anointed king by Samuel. That’s why it is also known as the City of David.

 

Such are Biblical recollections, reviviscent in a soul of Christian at the sight of Bethlehem and its suburbs. But how poor and dull they are if compared with a holy recollection of a great event, which brought Bethlehem a true greatness and glory, - Christmas.

 

The Birthplace of Jesus Christ is emphasized

by the row of silver icon-lamps and a silver 14-raysed star

 

 

Blessed Virgin Mary lived in Nazareth but because of a decree of the Roman emperor, she had to go to Bethlehem as she was of the House of David and of the tribe of Judah. And while they together with Joshua were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus; but as there was no place for them in the inn, she had to use a manger as a cradle. This great event gives a special sacred meaning to Bethlehem and its suburbs. Here, in the Bethlehem fields the angel announced to shepherds a joyous message about the birth of the Messiah. Here the Magi guided by no ordinary star came to greet Holy Infant.

 

In 326 Saint Helena Equal to the Apostles began the first Basilica on the Holy Crypt which was destroyed during the Samaritan revolt. But at once after its suppressing by Justinian the Great, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was renovated and enlarged, and restored to how it once was.

 

 

The stone manger where Jesus was placed after the Birth

 

 

The main middle altar of the Church, raised on several stages, is situated over the Crypt itself. It belongs to Greek (the Church itself is administrated by three confessions: Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic).From here you can come to the underground church which is the Grotto of the Nativity itself (you can come there down through one of two entrances on the big stone stages).The birthplace of the Savior is emphasized by the row of silver icon-lamps and a silver 14-raysed star with the inscription: "Hic de Virgin Maria Jesus Christus natus est" translated from the Latin: “Here Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ”. Here the table, altar and marble board are used as an altar where the divine mass is exercised. A few steps from the place of Jesus Birth, to the right, there is a special cave with a manger where Holy Child was placed in. The manger carved of the natural stone, is covered with white marble. In the Church of the Nativity there are several more caves and altars: the Chapel of the Innocents, commemorating the Bethlehem children killed by Herod, and the Chapel of Saint Jerome where traditionally he translated the Bible into Latin and others.