Milk Grotto is located to the south of the Church of the Nativity. It is considered sacred because, according to the tradition, the Holy Family took shelter here during the slaughter of the Innocents, before their flight to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. While Marry was nursing her child Jesus, a drop of milk fell on the ground of the cave turning it white.

The Grotto of the Nativity is located beneath the sanctuary and can be reached by two stairways.

This is the cave where Mary gave birth to Jesus. The exact place of birth is located on the east side of the cave and is marked by a star.

The star is made of silver and has 14 rays that represent the 14 generations from Abraham to David, the 14 generations from David to the exile of Babylon and the 14 generations from the exile of Babylon to Jesus’ birth. The Latin inscriptions that appear on the star reads: “Here of the Virgin Mary Jesus Christ was born - 1717”. The opening in the center of the star has a view of the natural rock of the cave.
This original star disappeared in 1847 (the disappearance of the star caused the Crimean War between Russia and France). The present star was given to the church by the Greeks in 1852.

The church of Nativity in Bethlehem is the oldest operating church in the Holy Land.

This splendid Church was founded by Constantine and his mother, St. Helene, in the year 326 A.D. The Church was built over a cave which, according to the tradition, marks the Christ’s birthplace.

Emperor Justinian destroyed the Constantinian Church and rebuilt the current structure in the year 530 A.D. The Church was much larger than the former one and the builders used lavishly and elegant decorated basilica in order to immortalize the manger where Jesus was born. It was built in two separate parts. Above the Nativity cave is the basilica and commemoration area and the western section is for worship.

Bethlehem General Overview

Bethlehem (Arabic: لحم‎ بيت, Bayt Lahm, Hebrew: בית לחם‎, Beit Lehem) is located in the province of Judah, approximately 10 kilometers (5.5 miles) south of Jerusalem. The name Bethlehem is derived from the bread (Lehem) that the inhabitants baked from the wheat grown in the surrounding fields. It is also known as “The city of David” and was referenced as Ephrath.

Under the tyrant regime of the Ottoman Empire, Christians of the Holy Land had to find ways to practice their faith without bringing too much attention to themselves. Haifa was not an exception, and Christians, who made over 50% of the population of Haifa back then, had to maneuver to build more places of worship.

Built in 1862 in the middle of "Haret el Kanayes" (Arabic - meaning Neighborhood of Churches), what is known today as "Kiriat Hamemshala" (Hebrew - meaning Government's Campus), The Madonna Church was one of the most important Christian worship centers in Haifa. In 1936 it was officially associated with the Melkite Catholic Church.