THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY IN BETHLEHEM
Dr G.S.P. Freeman-Grenville
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Shrine and Scandal
Early Christian Period to 529
Early Christian Period
post 529
Crusader Period
The Grotto
Present Condition
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Present Condition of the Church
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The roof of the church is in a decayed condition and its timbers are rotting. It has been replaced many times, notably in 1480, when Edward IV of England supplied the lead, and his sister, the Duchess of Burgundy, gave the wood while Venice provided the craftsmen. The most recent replacement was in the 19th century. The dilapidated state of the roof is nothing short of a scandal. Rainwater seeps into the building and damages its structural fabric and the precious 12th century wall mosaics and pillar paintings. Wet or dry, there is an ever present chance of an electrical short-circuit and fire. |
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| The restricted entrance to the church is another cause for concern. Justinian’s building was provided with three imposing doorways in its western facade. Of these only the central one is now in use. The two either side have long been blocked, on the left by a buttress, on the right by an Armenian hall, originally intended to accommodate pilgrims. | |
(drawing by A.G. Walls) |
The one remaining doorway has been severely constricted. In the Crusader period, it was lowered with a Gothic arch, when towers were erected on either side, of which no external traces now survive. Sometime after 1515, this doorway was further reduced to prevent the Ottomans quartering their horses in the church. The tiny aperture that serves as both entrance and exit to this great basilica constitutes a danger to pilgrims. An emergency such as a fire caused by the damp wiring in the building could result in heavy casualties as visitors struggle to escape. The drawing shows the three successive doorways, as they are now visible. Both the Crusader and Ottoman period intrusions could be removed without risk, and the dignified early Christian entrance reinstated Moreover, the amianthus asbestos curtains throughout the Grotto of the Nativity pose a health hazard and need to be replaced with some urgency.
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