The population of the Christians in Bethlehem has dwindled from 85% in 1948 to 12% at present.
By NITZA TANNERchurch nativity 88 224(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Bethlehem, lying just to the south of Jerusalem, has a long and wonderful history for Jews and Christians.
During the time of the Patriarchs, Jacob's wife, Rachel, died during the birth of Benjamin, "and was buried in the way to Efrat, which is Bethlehem" (Genesis 25:19).
Around 1000 BCE/BC, at the beginning of Passover, a young woman from Moab named Ruth, came to Bethlehem and eventually married Boaz; their subsequent generations: Boaz-Obed-Jesse, produced the great King of Israel, David (Ruth 1:22-2:4;4:13,17).
Three hundred years later the prophet Micah foretold the coming of the Messiah from Bethlehem-Ephrata (Micah 5:2-5), and it happened that more than 2,000 years ago, a child was born from the line of David in Bethlehem. (Matthew 1:5-15; Luke 3:23-32) From the fields outside of the little town the birth was announced by an angel, "in the city of David there has been born for you, a deliverer, who is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:8-11).
The Church of the Nativity was built in 333 CE/AD by the mother of the Emperor Constantine, over the traditional site of the birthplace. The church was later destroyed and then rebuilt in the Basilica. A lower grotto marks the traditional place of birth, and from the chapel of St. Catherines, a newer addition completed in 1882, the Christmas Eve mass is celebrated every year. Three different churches are represented in the present structure: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian.
The population of the Christians in Bethlehem has dwindled from 85 percent in 1948 to 12% at present. Since December 1995 the town has been under the control of the various Arab authorities. The Church of the Nativity stands today relatively the same, as the oldest continuously operated church in the world.
