The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/church-of-the-nativity/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:09:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Church of the Nativity | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/church-of-the-nativity/ 32 32 Israelis flood Nazareth for Christmas celebrations, while Bethlehem subdued https://www.timesofisrael.com/bethlehem-subdued-for-a-second-pandemic-christmas/ Fri, 24 Dec 2021 18:10:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2671911 Tens of thousands visit northern town for festive events; in the West Bank, meanwhile, locals who depend on tourism for their livelihood say health crisis 'worse than war'

The post Israelis flood Nazareth for Christmas celebrations, while Bethlehem subdued appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Bethlehem hoped to recoup some coronavirus losses this Christmas. Then came Omicron https://www.timesofisrael.com/bethlehem-hoped-to-recoup-some-coronavirus-losses-this-christmas-then-came-omicron/ Sat, 11 Dec 2021 14:29:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2661114 Some tourists were expected to return this year, but new COVID strain and resulting Israeli ban on foreigners mean city will likely see second year with little income

The post Bethlehem hoped to recoup some coronavirus losses this Christmas. Then came Omicron appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Ancient souvenir was a pocket-sized lamb of Bethlehem for Christian pilgrims https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-souvenir-was-a-pocket-sized-lamb-of-bethlehem-for-christian-pilgrims/ Thu, 24 Dec 2020 17:58:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2455087 Israel Museum researcher finds rare eulogia token showing both baby Jesus and Church of the Nativity as it may have looked 700 years after his birth

The post Ancient souvenir was a pocket-sized lamb of Bethlehem for Christian pilgrims appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Palestinians confirm 7 coronavirus cases, declare tourist ban https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-confirm-7-coronavirus-cases-declare-tourist-ban/ Thu, 05 Mar 2020 18:55:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2253786 Schools, universities, mosques, churches close, and Palestine Marathon postponed after carriers identified in Bethlehem

The post Palestinians confirm 7 coronavirus cases, declare tourist ban appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Israel seeks to curb Muslim prayer at Temple Mount over virus fear; Waqf refuses https://www.timesofisrael.com/minister-said-seeking-to-cancel-muslim-prayers-at-temple-mount-over-virus-fears/ Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:37:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2253651&preview=true&preview_id=2253651 Gilad Erdan asks National Security Council chief to limit Friday prayers to only Arab Israelis and East Jerusalemites after 7 infections in West Bank, but Muslim body says no

The post Israel seeks to curb Muslim prayer at Temple Mount over virus fear; Waqf refuses appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Greece says 23 tourists who recently visited Israel sick with COVID-19 https://www.timesofisrael.com/greece-says-23-tourists-who-recently-visited-israel-sick-with-covid-19/ Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:03:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2253588&preview=true&preview_id=2253588 Authorities in Athens say group was in Israel, West Bank and Egypt on February 19-27; at West Bank hotel where they stayed, 4 people may be infected

The post Greece says 23 tourists who recently visited Israel sick with COVID-19 appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> PA: 4 people at Bethlehem-area hotel may have virus, Nativity church to shutter https://www.timesofisrael.com/pa-4-people-at-bethlehem-area-hotel-may-have-virus-nativity-church-to-shutter/ Thu, 05 Mar 2020 12:46:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2253353 Palestinian Tourism Ministry decides hotels throughout West Bank will stop welcoming tourists as of Friday

The post PA: 4 people at Bethlehem-area hotel may have virus, Nativity church to shutter appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> ‘Jeopardy!’ question about Bethlehem shouldn’t have aired, producers say https://www.timesofisrael.com/jeopardy-question-about-bethlehem-shouldnt-have-aired-producers-say/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 18:49:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2220865 Episode led to a social media backlash after contestants offered different takes on which country is home to the historic Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city

The post ‘Jeopardy!’ question about Bethlehem shouldn’t have aired, producers say appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> ‘Jeopardy’ causes online furor over location of Church of Nativity https://www.timesofisrael.com/jeopardy-causes-online-furor-over-location-of-church-of-nativity/ Sun, 12 Jan 2020 09:39:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2218955 Clip showing contestant's 'Palestine' answer being ruled wrong on US game show angers activists

The post ‘Jeopardy’ causes online furor over location of Church of Nativity appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Bethlehem welcomes pilgrims for Christmas celebrations https://www.timesofisrael.com/bethlehem-welcomes-pilgrims-for-christmas-celebrations/ Tue, 24 Dec 2019 07:02:31 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2207458 Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the most senior Roman Catholic official in the Middle East, to lead midnight mass on Tuesday evening in city where Jesus believed born

The post Bethlehem welcomes pilgrims for Christmas celebrations appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Facing backlash, Israel says it’ll allow Christian Gazans to go to Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/facing-backlash-israel-says-itll-allow-christian-gazans-to-go-to-jerusalem/ Sun, 22 Dec 2019 21:48:04 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2202133 PA official says 55 Christian Palestinians from the coastal enclave have so far received permits to travel to Jerusalem and the West Bank during Christmas

The post Facing backlash, Israel says it’ll allow Christian Gazans to go to Jerusalem appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Palestinians in Bethlehem look beyond religious tourism https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-in-bethlehem-look-beyond-religious-tourism/ Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:23:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2198425 With art and food tours, residents of West Bank city try to find new ways to attract visitors

The post Palestinians in Bethlehem look beyond religious tourism appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> After restoration, Church of the Nativity no longer considered endangered site https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-restoration-church-of-the-nativity-no-longer-considered-endangered-site/ Tue, 02 Jul 2019 15:45:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2104998 UNESCO removes Bethlehem church from its list of at-risk heritage sites, praises high-quality renovation

The post After restoration, Church of the Nativity no longer considered endangered site appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Palestinians say baptismal font discovered at Church of the Nativity https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-say-baptismal-font-discovered-at-church-of-the-nativity/ Sun, 23 Jun 2019 01:21:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2098802 Experts called in to examine receptacle, found hidden under larger basin, at Bethlehem pilgrimage site

The post Palestinians say baptismal font discovered at Church of the Nativity appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Pilgrims gather at Jesus’s traditional birthplace for Christmas https://www.timesofisrael.com/pilgrims-gather-at-jesuss-traditional-birthplace-for-christmas/ Mon, 24 Dec 2018 13:10:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1985782 Palestinian scouts and a bagpipe band parade in Manger Square across from the Church of the Nativity, as Bethlehem gets into the spirit for Christian festival

The post Pilgrims gather at Jesus’s traditional birthplace for Christmas appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]>