how” the sacred topographies described in the Bible might have functioned, Professor Ken Dark of England’s
University of Reading believes the holy sites, including Jesus’ birthplace, became pilgrimage sites much earlier than is generally believed.
The researcher initially set out to discover “when” exactly Christians began traveling to holy sites in the Holy Land that were associated with Biblical events. However, during the course of his study, the professor found evidence suggesting fourth-century imperial church-builders “inherited, rather than created” the locations of Christian significance, and that the holy sites had emerged gradually over many centuries.
Jesus’ Birthplace And The Origins Of Christian Pilgrimage