Mar Saba, Beit Sahour, Bethlehem

October 9, 2011

We're doing fine and enjoying this adventure. Today we first went to Mar Saba (one of the oldest monasteries in the world), where about 30 monks currently live and pray in isolation from each other except once/week on Sunday.

Mar Saba

Then we continued to the Monastery of the Shepherds, in Beit Sahour (near Bethlehem). Because this was a Sunday, A’be had said we may or may not be able to get in. He rang the bell at the gate and we four (A’be, Steve, me, Evelyn) were welcomed in. The Main Church of Beit Sahour is Greek Orthodox and absolutely beautiful inside and out. Steve took many pictures of the multiple painted and shaped icons throughout. As A’be said at one point, without icons then (and now), Christianity may not have survived. Most people would learn through pictures and actions, but not written language (because they were not literate). Steve took many, many photos, and there is a very good uTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1uz7aEkkeU. The Shepherds’ tomb is below ground level in sacred caves within the original monastery which has been excavated enough to show beautiful mosaic floors.

Church of Beit Sahour (Shepherds Field)

(see attached compressed photo)

Church of the Nativity

Later in the morning we saw the Church of the Nativity (in Bethlehem and built over the spot where Jesus was believed to have been born).

 

Olive Wood Factory, Bethlehem

Through A’be’s efforts and persuasion of a friend/colleague, we three visited a traditional olivewood-carving workshop and then a cooperative store. The director/owner (named Sal, I think) graciously took time from his Sunday morning to open the workshop and the store, before which he introduced us to his aunt and uncle who graciously welcomed us to their home. What wonderful people we have met everywhere in Palestine!

 And then we saw other religious sites in Bethlehem:

Grotto of the Nativity (Church of the Nativity)

Grotto of the Manger (C of N)

St. Jerome’s (Heronimus) Study (C of N)

 The Church of St. Catherine (C of N)

                 

The Call of David  (in St. Catherine’s)

(see attached compressed photo)

Milk Grotto

Milk Grotto

Sometime during this day we ended up in the Intercontinental Bethlehem hotel where we stayed two nights. What a very interesting building, originally constructed as a mansion and later sold (or given) as a hotel during which time several extensions were added.

A confusing building (getting from point A to B or C was always confusing, even with signage), interesting yet in need of repair and upkeep.

We're getting a bit travel weary….