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Bethlehem's Church of Nativity Buzzes With People for Christmas

Published December 23rd, 2018 - 09:39 GMT

Bethlehem is buzzing with more tourists expected this Christmas to visit the holy city than ever before. Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity was believed to have been established in the 4 Century on the same spot were Jesus was born. Today, its mosiacs and frescos have been restored just in time for Christmas. 

The highlight of the church is the Grotto of the Nativity, the spot where the manger is believed to have been where Mary gave birth to Jesus. There's a glittering star marking the spot that pilgrims can kiss.

Now many of the frescoes are clear to see, including several angels located between windows and the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

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Tourists and pilgrims visit the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Thomas Coex/AFP

Tourists and pilgrims visit the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Thomas Coex/AFP

Christian worshipers light candles at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshipers light candles at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

A man takes a selfie picture as tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

A man takes a selfie picture as tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

A group of tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, as others pray at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Thomas Coex/AFP

A group of tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, as others pray at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Thomas Coex/AFP

Christian worshippers and clerics pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshippers and clerics pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshipers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

Christian worshipers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP

A Christian worhsipper prays inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa AL SHAER / AFP

A Christian worhsipper prays inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa AL SHAER / AFP

Tourists and pilgrims visit the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Thomas Coex/AFP
Christian worshipers light candles at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A man takes a selfie picture as tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A group of tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, as others pray at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Thomas Coex/AFP
Christian worshippers and clerics pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshipers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A Christian worhsipper prays inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa AL SHAER / AFP
Tourists and pilgrims visit the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Thomas Coex/AFP
Tourists and pilgrims visit the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Thomas Coex/AFP
Christian worshipers light candles at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshipers light candles at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A man takes a selfie picture as tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A man takes a selfie picture as tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A group of tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, as others pray at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Thomas Coex/AFP
A group of tourists and pilgrims visit the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, as others pray at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Thomas Coex/AFP
Christian worshippers and clerics pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers and clerics pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshippers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshipers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
Christian worshipers pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa Al Shaer/AFP
A Christian worhsipper prays inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa AL SHAER / AFP
A Christian worhsipper prays inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 22, 2018, three days ahead of the Christmas celebration. Musa AL SHAER / AFP
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