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Visiting Bethlehem for Christmas? There’s an App for That!

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6 years ago

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Source: CNS Photo/Debbie Hill

With tourists flocking in their masses to visit the Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity (the church built on the site Jesus is believed to have been born), catching a glimpse of the historical Christian site can prove difficult.
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Bethlehem, Israel Church of the Nativity _____ The 4th Century Church of the Nativity is on the site believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. It houses a grotto that is the oldest site continuously worshipped in Christianity and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land. ____ Since “Tis The Season” I wanted to share a few pics and video from the tour. Why the first picture in such a holy place you ask? Let me preface my response by noting the following: 1. There are shoulder to shoulder crowds trying to get into a small underground space. 2. Once you are inside there is an alter believed to be the exact spot Mary laid Sweet Baby Jesus. 3. If desired you can crawl under the curtained alter. I remember putting my hand in a bowl of oil then touching a silver star. 4. Don’t ask why we decided to do it at the same time. 😭 . It happened so fast there was no time for posing for pictures so our guide did the best he could. . . . . . . . . . . . #reednwright #bethlehem #christmasinbethlehem #churchofthenativity #jerusalem #holyland #awayinthemanger #holyshrine #jesusisthereasonfortheseason #blacktravelfeed #blacktravelmovement #blacktravelista #blacktravelgram #blacksintheholyland #iamatraveler #tlpicks

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Fortunately, there’s an app that is being developed to help organize pilgrims and tourists by implementing an advance reservation system helping to ease the flow of people who normally wait hours to visit the underground grotto where Jesus was born in a manger, according to RelaxNews.

Although the app is still in the developmental stage and won’t be rolled out until next year, religious leaders say such an app is necessary in order to allow better access.

“There are times for us when there are specific prayers, celebrations, or masses, or with all the sects praying,” Orthodox priest Issa Thaljieh told the AFP outside of the Church of the Nativity. “So of course there is a huge squeeze. With the app, everyone will know what time to enter and which groups are there, so it will become more organized.”

Not only will the app allow for advance reservations to visit the site, it will also provide information about the church.

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