Chapel of the Shepherd's Field
Shepherds' Field Chapel | |
---|---|
Sanctuary Gloria in excelsis Deo | |
Shepherds' Field Chapel | |
31°42′26.3″N 35°13′48.4″E / 31.707306°N 35.230111°ECoordinates: 31°42′26.3″N 35°13′48.4″E / 31.707306°N 35.230111°E | |
Location | Bethlehem |
Country | Palestine |
Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Antonio Barluzzi |
Completed | 1953 |
The Shepherds' Field Chapel (Arabic: كنيسة حقل الرعاة; Hebrew: כנסיית שדה הרועים) is a Roman Catholic religious building.[1] in the area of Beit Sahour,[2] southeast of Bethlehem in the West Bank in Palestine. The chapel marks the place where, according to Catholic tradition, angels first announced the birth of Christ.
Biblical relevance[]
The location is traditionally held to be not only the site of the Annunciation to the shepherds, but also the place mentioned in Ruth 2:2, where Ruth gleaned grain for herself and Naomi.[3]
History[]
Byzantine period[]
Prior to the construction of the present chapel in 1953, Franciscan archaeologist Virgilio Canio Corbo excavated the site and found evidence of a large monastic establishment, whose church dates to the 5th century.[4]
Modern church[]
The Shepherds' Field Chapel was built by the Franciscans in 1953.[3] It is not far from the Greek Orthodox Der El Rawat Chapel, commemorating the same event.[5]
Architecture[]
The Chapel was designed by architect Antonio Barluzzi. Under the chapel is a large cave.
It has five apses that mimic the structure of a nomadic tent in gray. The words of the angel to the shepherds incristas gold. An image depicting the birth of Jesus can be seen in the place.[6] The Status Quo, a 250-year old understanding between religious communities, applies to the site.[7][8]
Gallery[]
inside view
View of the outside
View of access to the cave
the Trails
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo" chapel
See also[]
- Roman Catholicism in the Palestinian territories
- Church of St. Catherine, Bethlehem
References[]
- ^ Murphy-O'Connor, J. (2008-02-28). The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191647666.
- ^ "Midnight Mass at Bethlehem | Magnificat Media | Creation and production of engaging educational content". Magnificat Media | Creation and production of engaging educational content. 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ a b Tilbury, Neil (1989-10-01). Israel, a travel survival kit. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9780864420152.
- ^ Shomali, Q. and Shomali, Sawsan: “A Guide to Bethlehem & the Holy Land, Bethlehem University
- ^ Humphreys, Andrew (1996-01-01). Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 9780864423993.
- ^ Jenkins, Ferrell (2013-12-25). "Visiting the shepherd's fields near Bethlehem". Ferrell's Travel Blog. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ UN Conciliation Commission (1949). United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine Working Paper on the Holy Places.
- ^ Cust, L. G. A. (1929). The Status Quo in the Holy Places. H.M.S.O. for the High Commissioner of the Government of Palestine.
External links[]
- Roman Catholic churches in Bethlehem
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1953
- Roman Catholic chapels in the State of Palestine
- Status quo holy places
- 20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings