Bethlehem Nativity Church

Our next stop was Bethlehem, which meant crossing over into the West Bank. Tourist buses are generally not bothered, and our crossing was seamless. It only became apparent that we were in West Bank when we picked up a Palestinian guide.  He expertly ushered us into the Church of the Nativity and did not let us linger but took us straight to the grotto entrance. The rush seemed unnecessary until we saw the doors to the grotto close behind us - it was time for mass, and the cave would be closed for at least an hour. Once we had filed past the spot where Jesus was born, we were free to wander and marvel. Although under renovation, there was much to see, even some of the original construction from the 4th century. If these walls could speak...

Culture clash  

14 point star marking the spot where Jesus was born

St Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate here  - it was illegal so he completed it at night. 

Bending down when entering reinforces a spirit of humility 

The Church of Nativity contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus. The grotto is the oldest site continuously worshipped in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land.
 Several chapels are found in the caves accessed from St. Catherine's, including the Chapel of Saint Joseph commemorating the angel's appearance to Joseph, commanding him to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13); the Chapel of the Innocents, commemorating the children killed by Herod (Matthew 2:16–18); and the Chapel of Saint Jerome, in the underground cell where tradition holds he lived while translating the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate). (Wikipedia)