Church of the Nativity

Department Archive
Collection Byzantine Research Fund
Reference No. BRF/02/03/01/065
Level Item
Place Bethlehem
Dates 1908?
Donor/Creator Harvey, Mr William
Scope and Content North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 8th window. The photograph is annotated in ink at the back: 'MOSAIC ON N. WALL OF NAVE. BETHLEHEM'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/13/32/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/064) and 02/13/32/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/066).
Further information The church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, is a large five-aisled basilica with transept, narthex, a trefoil apse and two entrances leading to the cave of the Nativity. It was built by Justinian I between 560 and 603/5 on the ruins of the first church which had been erected by Constantine I on the site of the cave of the Nativity. The building was decorated with lavish mosaics by Manuel I Komnenos with the contribution of the Latin King and the Bishop of Jerusalem according to the text of the dedicatory inscription which also names a certain Ephraim as the mosaicist. The rare theme of the Ecumenical Councils decorates the side aisles.