of course for christians bethlehem the city of king david is the birth place of jesus christ. you can see how it attracts people from all over the world because this is the birth of the savior not just of an important historical figure. father jerome murphy o connor served in israel for 40 years he took us on the tour of the church of nativity along side major square. he has seen many changes. where have all of the christians gone? they are afraid to come. they are afraid of all of the turmoil and fighting that has plagued this area. this bethlehem used to be 100 percent christian. now it stands only above 35. i talked with people who used to wait in line for hours to get into the church of the nativity. now it looks like you can walk right in. absolutely. the door we will be going
people bow down. be humble. not impossible by any means. once inside this ancient building visitors see a sight drastically different from the humble stable of the bible. greek orthodox main altar. very around nate. extremely around nate. you see the choir for the most. this is where literally every sunday every day in fact. the original church was an octagon built over the cave. it is now below the altar in the grot el of the nativity. father o connor took us there. there are two altars this is the brothel of the nativity scene. if you put your hand through the whole you can touch. on this side this is the altar
of the manger. even in this paceful place there are long running disputes. the altar of the manger belongs to the monks the other alter in greek orthodox. the other christian groups is the arameanian orthodox. there is splits every where. exactly. that is give to go the holy man. the belief is that this is where jesus was born? yes. and then he was carried over here to the manger. exactly. then you see this is the cave which of course has been shaped but this wall is artificial. next door is the holy tirn face. father murphy o connor took us there for a look. there is very little evidence of the original cave left here. whatever is original is down below us here.
of the manger. even in this paceful place there are long running disputes. the altar of the manger belongs to the monks the other alter in greek orthodox. the other christian groups is the arameanian orthodox. there is splits every where. exactly. that is give to go the holy man. the belief is that this is where jesus was born? yes. and then he was carried over here to the manger. exactly. then you see this is the cave which of course has been shaped but this wall is artificial. next door is the holy tirn face. father murphy o connor took us there for a look. there is very little evidence of the original cave left here. whatever is original is down below us here. tradition has it christ would
people bow down. be humble. not impossible by any means. once inside this ancient building visitors see a sight drastically different from the humble stable of the bible. greek orthodox main altar. very around nate. extremely around nate. you see the choir for the most. this is where literally every sunday every day in fact. the original church was an octagon built over the cave. it is now below the altar in the grot el of the nativity. father o connor took us there. there are two altars this is the brothel of the nativity scene. if you put your hand through the whole you can touch. on this side this is the altar