Bethlehemites , or Bethlemites , is the name of five Catholic religious orders . Two of them were restored to existence in the 20th century. The other three are extinct.
107-580: This order was founded in Bethlehem and managed a seminary there, until the Christian expulsion from the Holy Land . The order then moved to northern Italy, where it remained until it dissolved some time in the 16th century. The author of an article in the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia says that, in his Grande Chronique , Matthew Paris mentions that Henry III of England authorized an order of Bethlehemites to open
214-608: A Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification : Csa ), with hot and dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Winter temperatures (mid-December to mid-March) can be cool and rainy. January is the coldest month, with temperatures ranging from 1 to 13 degree Celsius (33–55 °F). From May through September, the weather is warm and sunny. August is the hottest month, with a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F). Bethlehem receives an average of 700 millimeters (28 in) of rainfall annually, 70% between November and January. Bethlehem's average annual relative humidity
321-600: A city in the Kingdom of Judah was uncovered in 2012 at the archaeological dig at the City of David in the form of a bulla (seal impression in dried clay) in ancient Hebrew script that reads "From the town of Bethlehem to the King." According to the excavators, it was used to seal the string closing a shipment of grain, wine, or other goods sent as a tax payment in the 8th or 7th century BCE. Biblical scholars believe Bethlehem, located in
428-465: A house in a suburb of Cambridge in 1257; but he leaves us in complete ignorance as to their founder, where they originated, and their history. We only know that their habit was similar to that of the Dominican order and that a red star, whose five rays emanated from an azure center (in reference to Matthew 2:1–11 ), decorated the breast of their cape. This was in commemoration of the star that appeared to
535-808: A leadership that was largely Muslim. During the Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000–2005, Bethlehem's infrastructure and tourism industry were damaged. In 2002, it was a primary combat zone in Operation Defensive Shield , a major military counteroffensive by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF besieged the Church of the Nativity , where dozens of Palestinian militants had sought refuge. The siege lasted 39 days. Several militants were killed. It ended with an agreement to exile 13 of
642-527: A minority." The Palestinian Authority is officially committed to equality for Christians, although there have been incidents of violence against them by the Preventive Security Service and militant factions. In 2006, a Zogby poll that interviewed more than 1,000 Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem found that 79% of the respondents cited the Israeli occupation as source of difficulties leading
749-410: A monk is one who lives in a monastery under a monastic rule such as that of Saint Benedict . The term friar properly refers to a male member of a mendicant order . The term nun was in the 1917 Code of Canon Law reserved for members of a women's religious institute of solemn vows , and is sometimes applied only to those who devote themselves wholly to the contemplative life and belong to one of
856-405: A particular institute, members wishing to be admitted permanently are required to make public and perpetual vows . A vow is classified as public if a legitimate superior accepts it in the name of the church, as happens when one joins a religious institute. In making their religious profession, the members are "incorporated into the institute, with the rights and duties defined by law", and "through
963-537: A religious institute lives in community with other members of the institute and observes the three evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience, which they bind themselves to observe by public vows. Since every religious institute has its own unique charism , it adheres to a particular way of religious living whether contemplative or apostolic . Thus, the nuns of some contemplative orders are subject to papal enclosure . Other religious institutes have apostolates that wherein their members interact with
1070-473: A rule; either a pre-existing one such as the Rule of Saint Augustine or the Rule of St Basil , etc. or one composed by the founder, which generally incorporates aspects of earlier, traditional rules such as those mentioned or the Rule of Saint Benedict . In common parlance, all members of male religious institutes are often termed monks and those of female religious institutes nuns , although in an accurate sense,
1177-629: A thousand businessmen, bankers and government officials from throughout the Middle East to invest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip . A total of 1.4 billion US dollars was secured for business investments in the Palestinian territories. Tourism is Bethlehem's main industry. Unlike other Palestinian localities prior to 2000, the majority of the employed residents did not have jobs in Israel. More than 20% of
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#17328521439011284-415: A town near Jerusalem, Bit-Lahmi by name, a village which once belonged to the king, has fallen to the enemy... Let the king hear the words of your servant Abdi-Heba, and send archers to restore the imperial lands of the king!" It is thought that the similarity of this name to its modern forms indicates that it was originally a settlement of Canaanites who shared a Semitic cultural and linguistic heritage with
1391-515: A well preserved and much venerated church existed in the town. In 985, the Arab geographer al-Muqaddasi visited Bethlehem, and referred to its church as the "Basilica of Constantine, the equal of which does not exist anywhere in the country-round." In 1009, during the reign of the sixth Fatimid Caliph, al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah , the Church of the Nativity was ordered to be demolished, but was spared by local Muslims, because they had been permitted to worship in
1498-633: Is 60% and reaches its highest rates between January and February. Humidity levels are at their lowest in May. Night dew may occur in up to 180 days per year. The city is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea breeze that occurs around mid-day. However, Bethlehem is affected also by annual waves of hot, dry, sandy and dust Khamaseen winds from the Arabian Desert , during April, May and mid-June. According to Ottoman tax records , Christians made up roughly 60% of
1605-630: Is a city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine , located about ten kilometres (six miles) south of Jerusalem . It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate , and as of 2017 had a population of 28,591 people. The city's economy is largely tourist-driven ; international tourism peaks around and during Christmas , when Christians embark on a pilgrimage to the Church of
1712-519: Is a winery run by monks in the Monastery of Cremisan. The grapes are grown mainly in the al-Khader district. In 2007, the monastery's wine production was around 700,000 liters per year. In 2008, Bethlehem hosted the largest economic conference to date in the Palestinian territories . It was initiated by Palestinian Prime Minister and former Finance Minister Salam Fayyad to convince more than
1819-566: Is an association with the root l-h-m "to fight", leading to the meaning of "house of war" or "house of fighting", but this is thought unlikely. The earliest reference to Bethlehem appears in the Amarna correspondence ( c. 1400 BCE ). In one of his six letters to Pharaoh, Abdi-Heba , the Egyptian-appointed governor of Jerusalem, appeals for aid in retaking Bit-Laḫmi in the wake of disturbances by Apiru mercenaries: "Now even
1926-449: Is called contemplative religious life. The Rule of Saint Augustine stresses self-denial, moderation, and care for those in need. Many canons regular follow the Rule of Saint Augustine. Carmelites follow the Rule of Saint Albert , which was written specifically for them in the early 1200s by Albert of Vercelli and approved in slightly revised form by Pope Innocent IV . Jesuits follow what
2033-480: Is called not a rule, but the constitutions composed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola , which laid aside traditional practices such as chanting the liturgy in favour of greater adaptability and mobility. Some institutes combine a rule with constitutions that give more precise indications for the life of the members. Thus the Capuchin Constitutions of 1536 are added to the Rule of Saint Francis. In addition to
2140-463: Is easier for Arab Christians to integrate into western communities than for Arab Muslims, since many of them attend church-affiliated schools, where they are taught European languages. A higher percentage of Christians in the region are urban-dwellers, which also makes it easier for them to emigrate and assimilate into western populations. A statistical analysis of the Christian exodus cited lack of economic and educational opportunity, especially due to
2247-403: Is seized, and homes bulldozed, for construction of thousands of new Israeli homes. Land seizures for Israeli settlements have also prevented construction of a new hospital for the inhabitants of Bethlehem, as well as the barrier separating dozens of Palestinian families from their farmland and Christian communities from their places of worship. Christians have reportedly suffered persecution under
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#17328521439012354-539: Is situated on the Judean Mountains . The city is located 73 kilometers (45 mi) northeast of Gaza City and the Mediterranean Sea , 75 kilometers (47 mi) west of Amman , Jordan , 59 kilometers (37 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv , Israel and 10 kilometers (6 mi) south of Jerusalem. Nearby cities and towns include Beit Safafa and Jerusalem to the north, Beit Jala to the northwest, Husan to
2461-726: Is the Milk Grotto where the Holy Family took refuge on their Flight to Egypt and next door is the cave where St. Jerome spent thirty years creating the Vulgate , the dominant Latin version of the Bible until the Reformation. There are over thirty hotels in Bethlehem. Jacir Palace , built in 1910 near the church, is one of Bethlehem's most successful hotels and its oldest. It was closed down in 2000 due to
2568-696: The Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip . When the Palestinian Authority assumed control in 1995, it publicly extended the boundaries of Bethlehem, allegedly to secure a Muslim majority. This expansion incorporated over 30,000 Muslims from nearby refugee camps into the city. Yasser Arafat, then the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), unilaterally replaced the predominantly Christian city council with
2675-566: The Magi and led them to Bethlehem. This order is not to be confused with the military order of the Crusaders of the Red Star ( Ordo militaris crucigerorum cum rubea stella ), who came from Palestine to Bohemia in 1217, where Blessed Agnes of Bohemia confided two hospitals to their charge. They have since remained in that country where they devote themselves to the care of the sick, to education, and to
2782-698: The Roman Empire , the city of Bethlehem was destroyed by Hadrian , but later rebuilt by Constantine the Great , who commissioned the Church of the Nativity in 327 CE. In 529, the Church of the Nativity was heavily damaged by Samaritans involved in the Samaritan revolts ; following the victory of the Byzantine Empire , it was rebuilt by Justinian I . Later, during the rule of several Caliphates , Bethlehem became part of Jund Filastin in 637. Muslims continued to rule
2889-486: The desert . They have left no confirmed archaeological traces and only hints in the written record. Communities of virgins who had consecrated themselves to Christ are found at least as far back as the 2nd century. There were also individual ascetics, known as the "devout", who usually lived not in the deserts but on the edge of inhabited places, still remaining in the world but practicing asceticism and striving for union with God, although extreme ascetism such as encratism
2996-506: The enclosed religious orders living and working within the and reciting the Liturgy of the Hours in community . Historically, what are now called religious institutes were distinguished as either religious orders , whose members make solemn vows , or religious congregations , whose members make simple vows. Since the 1983 Code of Canon Law , only the term religious institute is used, while
3103-615: The region , was conquered by the Philistines , which led the region to be known to the Greeks as " Philistia ", later corrupted to " Palestine ". A burial ground discovered in spring 2013, and surveyed in 2015 by a joint Italian–Palestinian team found that the necropolis covered 3 hectares (more than 7 acres) and originally contained more than 100 tombs in use between roughly 2200 BCE and 650 BCE. The archaeologists were able to identify at least 30 tombs. Archaeological confirmation of Bethlehem as
3210-599: The "hill country" of Judea , may be the same as the Biblical Ephrath , which means "fertile", as there is a reference to it in the Book of Micah as Bethlehem Ephratah. The Hebrew Bible also calls it Beth-Lehem Judah , and the New Testament describes it as the "City of David". It is first mentioned in the Bible as the place where the matriarch Rachel died and was buried "by the wayside" ( Genesis 48:7 ). Rachel's Tomb ,
3317-557: The 1850s reported a population of under 4,000, nearly all of whom belonged to the Greek Church. He also noted that a lack of water limited the town's growth. Socin found from an official Ottoman village list from about 1870 that Bethlehem had a population of 179 Muslims in 59 houses, 979 "Latins" in 256 houses, 824 "Greeks" in 213 houses, and 41 Armenians in 11 houses, a total of 539 houses. The population count only included men. Hartmann found that Bethlehem had 520 houses. Bethlehem
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3424-678: The Basilica of the Nativity. The Greek Orthodox were given control of the basilica and shared control of the Milk Grotto with the Latins and the Armenians . From 1517, during the years of Ottoman control, custody of the Basilica was bitterly disputed between the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches . By the end of the 16th century, Bethlehem had become one of the largest villages in the District of Jerusalem, and
3531-506: The Christian quarters are named after the Arab Ghassanid clans that settled there. Al-Qawawsa Quarter was formed by Arab Christian emigrants from the nearby town of Tuqu' in the 18th century. There is also a Syriac quarter outside of the old city, whose inhabitants originate from Midyat and Ma'asarte in Turkey . The total population of the old city is about 5,000. Bethlehem has
3638-705: The Christians' middle-class status and higher education . Since the Second Intifada , 10% of the Christian population have left the city. However, it is likely that there are many other factors, most of which are shared with the Palestinian population as a whole. Shopping is a major attraction, especially during the Christmas season. The city's main streets and old markets are lined with shops selling Palestinian handicrafts , Middle Eastern spices, jewelry and oriental sweets such as baklawa . Olive wood carvings are
3745-607: The Crusaders. The treaty expired in 1239, and Bethlehem was recaptured by the Muslims in 1244. In 1250, with the coming to power of the Mamluks under Rukn al-Din Baibars , tolerance of Christianity declined. Members of the clergy left the city, and in 1263 the town walls were demolished. The Latin clergy returned to Bethlehem the following century, establishing themselves in the monastery adjoining
3852-622: The Emperor Justinian I . In 614, the Persian Sassanid Empire , supported by Jewish rebels , invaded Palestina Prima and captured Bethlehem. A story recounted in later sources holds that they refrained from destroying the church on seeing the magi depicted in Persian clothing in a mosaic. In 637, shortly after Jerusalem was captured by the Muslim armies , 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb ,
3959-672: The Frankish Kingdom of Jerusalem , was crowned in Bethlehem, and that year a Latin episcopate was also established in the town. In 1187, Saladin , the Sultan of Egypt and Syria who led the Muslim Ayyubids , captured Bethlehem from the Crusaders. The Latin clerics were forced to leave, allowing the Greek Orthodox clergy to return. Saladin agreed to the return of two Latin priests and two deacons in 1192. However, Bethlehem suffered from
4066-586: The Ghassanid clans. Bethlehem's two largest Arab Christian clans trace their ancestry to the Ghassanids, including al-Farahiyyah and an-Najajreh. The former have descended from the Ghassanids who migrated from Yemen and from the Wadi Musa area in present-day Jordan and an-Najajreh descend from Najran . Another Bethlehem clan, al-Anatreh, also trace their ancestry to the Ghassanids. The percentage of Christians in
4173-456: The Great decided to organize his disciples into a form of community in which they lived in individual huts or rooms ( cellula in Latin ), but worked, ate, and worshipped in shared space. Guidelines for daily life were drawn up (a monastic 'rule'); and several monasteries were founded, nine for men and two for women. This method of monastic organization is called cenobitic or "community-based". Toward
4280-515: The Holy See, may formally set it up as a religious institute under his own jurisdiction. Later, when it has grown in numbers, perhaps extending also into other dioceses, and further proved its worth, the Holy See may grant it formal approval, bringing it under the Holy See's responsibility, rather than that of the Bishops of the dioceses where it is present. For the good of such institutes and to provide for
4387-703: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but reopened in 2005 as the Jacir Palace InterContinental at Bethlehem. The hotel is managed by world renowned international brand — the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) and is second IHG hotel in the country after IHG in Jerusalem . In the New Testament , the Gospel of Luke says that Jesus ' parents traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus
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4494-520: The Manger Square. By 2016, the Christian population of Bethlehem had declined to only 16%. The Christian population's proportion of Bethlehem fell from 87% in the 1950s to 12% in 2016. A study by Pew Research Center concluded that the decline in the Arab Christian population of the area was partially a result of a lower birth rate among Christians than among Muslims, but also partially due to
4601-585: The Multidisciplinary Industrial Park of Bethlehem, which was developed by the Palestinian government and France . The Church of the Nativity is one of Bethlehem's major tourist attractions and a magnet for Christian pilgrims. It stands in the center of the city — a part of the Manger Square — over a grotto or cave called the Holy Crypt, where Jesus is believed to have been born. Nearby
4708-677: The Muslim quarter in 1834 by Egyptian troops, apparently as a reprisal for the murder of a favored loyalist of Ibrahim Pasha , during the Peasants' revolt in Palestine . In 1841, Bethlehem came under Ottoman rule once again and remained so until the end of World War I. Under the Ottomans, Bethlehem's inhabitants faced unemployment, compulsory military service , and heavy taxes, resulting in mass emigration, particularly to South America . An American missionary in
4815-440: The Nativity , revered as the location of the Nativity of Jesus . A possible first mention of Bethlehem is in the Amarna correspondence of ancient Egypt , dated to 1350–1330 BCE, although that reading is uncertain. In the Hebrew Bible , the period of the Israelites is described; it identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of David . In the New Testament , the city is identified as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth . Under
4922-496: The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Bethlehem ( Orden de los Hermanos de Nuestra Señora de Bethlehem ). In 2007, the order had 17 members, living in a single community at La Laguna , in Tenerife , Canary Islands . The Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno (or simply Monks and Sisters of Bethlehem) is a Roman Catholic religious order with Carthusian spirituality founded on November 1, 1950, at Saint Peter's Square , Rome , following
5029-417: The Palestinian Authority, leading to emigration. According to International Christian Concern , there are reports of Christians suffering sexual harassments, kidnappings, forced marriages, extortion and murder of converts by Muslims and PA officials. Bethlehem is located at an elevation of about 775 meters (2,543 ft) above sea level , 30 meters (98 ft) higher than nearby Jerusalem . Bethlehem
5136-417: The ability of Palestinians in the city to openly access their land and livelihoods, which has contributed to the exodus of Palestinians. The current name for Bethlehem in local languages is Bayt Laḥm /Bēt laḥm/ in Arabic ( Arabic : بيت لحم ), literally meaning "house of meat", and Bet Leḥem in Hebrew ( Hebrew : בֵּית לֶחֶם ), literally "house of bread" or "house of food." The city
5243-476: The age of 65. There were 11,079 males and 10,594 females. In the 2007 PCBS census, Bethlehem had a population of 25,266, of which 12,753 were males and 12,513 were females. There were 6,709 housing units, of which 5,211 were households. The average household consisted of 4.8 family members. By 2017, the population was 28,591. After the Muslim conquest of the Levant in the 630s, the local Christians were Arabized even though large numbers were ethnically Arabs of
5350-490: The book. The letters ܒܝܬܠܚܡ transliterate to ביתלחם. Amarna letter EA290 makes reference to a town bīt-ninurta which has been read as Bit-Lachmi by scholar W. F. Albright , following a proposal by Otto Schroeder in 1815 and making it a potential first historical reference to Bethlehem. This reading is, however, uncertain and has met with objections. Canaanite and Israelite toponyms starting with beth are interpreted to mean "house of", with 'house' understood as 'temple' and
5457-416: The bravery of its knights, but the second capture of Lemnos by the Turks rendered the institution useless. Thus the order of Our Lady of Bethlehem was suppressed almost as soon as founded and those orders whose goods the pope had transmitted to it were re-established. The Order of Bethlehemite Brothers (or Bethlehem Brothers) are a religious institute founded in Guatemala in 1653 and restored in 1984. It
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#17328521439015564-484: The cave was never dedicated to Tammuz and that Jerome misinterpreted Christian mourning over the Massacre of the Innocents as a pagan ritual over Tammuz's death. Joan E. Taylor has countered this contention by arguing that Jerome, as an educated man, could not have been so naïve as to mistake Christian mourning over the Massacre of the Innocents as a pagan ritual for Tammuz. In 326–328, the empress Helena , widowed consort of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and mother of
5671-454: The city is limited due to the Israeli West Bank barrier . While it was historically a city of Arab Christians , Bethlehem now has a majority of Arab Muslims ; while it is still home to a significant population of Palestinian Christians , this community has dwindled significantly, from about 86 per cent in 1950 to about 10 per cent in 2022. Presently, Bethlehem has become encircled by dozens of Israeli settlements , which significantly hinder
5778-420: The city until 1099, when it was conquered by the Crusaders , who replaced the local Christian Greek Orthodox clergy with Catholic ones. In the mid-13th century, Bethlehem's walls were demolished by the Mamluk Sultanate . However, they were rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century when it came to control the region. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I , Bethlehem
5885-453: The city. During the early months of First Intifada , on 5 May 1989, Milad Anton Shahin, aged 12, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers . Replying to a Member of Knesset in August 1990 Defence Minister Yitzak Rabin stated that a group of reservists in an observation post had come under attack by stone throwers. The commander of the post, a senior non-commissioned officer, fired two plastic bullets in deviation of operational rules. No evidence
5992-406: The continuous ' in partibus infidelium ' seat of the Bishopric of Bethlehem for almost 600 years, until the French Revolution in 1789. Bethlehem, along with Jerusalem, Nazareth , and Sidon , was briefly ceded to the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem by a treaty between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Ayyubid Sultan al-Kamil in 1229, in return for a ten-year truce between the Ayyubids and
6099-492: The counsels of chastity and evangelical poverty. Some institutes take additional vows (a "fourth vow" is typical), specifying some particular work or defining condition of their way of life (e.g., the Jesuit vow to undertake any mission upon which they are sent by the pope; the Missionaries of Charity vow to serve always the poorest of the poor). The traditional distinction between simple and solemn vows no longer has any juridical effect. Solemn vows once meant those taken in what
6206-504: The distinction between solemn and simple vows is still maintained. Admittance to a religious institute is regulated by the requirements canon law states. Religious profession can be temporary or perpetual: "Temporary profession is to be made for the period defined by the institute's own law. This period may not be less than three years nor longer than six years." Broadly speaking, after a period spanning postulancy , and novitiate and while in temporary vows to test their vocation with
6313-429: The emigration of their community. In the same year, the Palestinian Centre for Research and Cultural Dialogue conducted a poll among the city's Christians according to which 90% said they had had Muslim friends, 73.3% agreed that the PNA treated Christian heritage in the city with respect and 78% attributed the exodus of Christians to the Israeli blockade. The only mosque in the Old City is the Mosque of Omar , located in
6420-423: The end of his life Saint Pachomius was therefore not only the abbot of a monastery but also the head of a whole group of monasteries. The Greeks (e.g. St Basil the Great of Cappadocian Caesarea) and the Syriac-speaking east had their own monastic traditions (e.g. St Ephrem of Nisibis and Edessa). The earliest forms of monasticism in Western Europe involved figures such as Martin of Tours , who established
6527-412: The fact that Christians were more likely to emigrate from the region than any other religious group. The seizure of Christian land by Muslim mafias and the bias of the Palestinian Judicial system have been cited as reasons leading to emigration. Amon Ramnon, a researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research , stated that the reason why more Christians were emigrating than Muslims is because it
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#17328521439016634-459: The faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life In the Catholic Church , a religious institute is "a society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vows , either perpetual or temporary which are to be renewed, however, when
6741-427: The four great religious rules: Rule of St Basil , Rule of Saint Benedict , Rule of Saint Augustine , and the Rule of Saint Francis . The Rule of St Basil, one of the earliest rules for Christian religious life, is followed primarily by monastic communities of Byzantine tradition. Western monastics ( Benedictines , Trappists , Cistercians , etc.) observe the Rule of Saint Benedict, a collection of precepts for what
6848-467: The item most purchased by tourists visiting Bethlehem. Religious handicrafts include ornaments handmade from mother-of-pearl , as well as olive wood statues, boxes, and crosses. Other industries include stone and marble-cutting, textiles, furniture and furnishings. Bethlehem factories also produce paints, plastics, synthetic rubber , pharmaceuticals, construction materials and food products, mainly pasta and confectionery. Cremisan Wine , founded in 1885,
6955-439: The later arrivals. Laḫmu was the Akkadian god of fertility, worshipped by the Canaanites as Leḥem . Some time in the third millennium BCE, Canaanites erected a temple on the hill now known as the Hill of the Nativity, probably dedicated to Laḫmu . The temple, and subsequently the town that formed around it, was then known as Beit Lahama , "House (Temple) of Lahmu". By 1200 BC , the area of Bethlehem, as well as much of
7062-426: The loss of the pilgrim trade, as there was a sharp decrease of European pilgrims. William IV, Count of Nevers had promised the Christian bishops of Bethlehem that if Bethlehem should fall under Muslim control, he would welcome them in the small town of Clamecy in present-day Burgundy , France. As a result, the Bishop of Bethlehem duly took up residence in the hospital of Panthenor, Clamecy, in 1223. Clamecy remained
7169-516: The militants to foreign countries. Today, the city is surrounded by two bypass roads for Israeli settlers , leaving the inhabitants squeezed between thirty-seven Jewish enclaves, where a quarter of all West Bank settlers, roughly 170,000, live; the gap between the two roads is closed by the 8-metre high Israeli West Bank barrier , which cuts Bethlehem off from its sister city Jerusalem. Christian families that have lived in Bethlehem for hundreds of years are being forced to leave as land in Bethlehem
7276-470: The ministry of the Church they are consecrated to God". Typically, members of religious institutes either take vows of evangelical chastity, poverty, and obedience (the "Evangelical Counsels") to lead a life in imitation of Christ Jesus, or, those following the Rule of Saint Benedict, the vows of obedience, stability (that is, to remain with this particular community until death and not seek to move to another), and "conversion of life" which implicitly includes
7383-434: The more fundamental provisions of the rule or constitutions, religious institutes have statutes that are more easily subject to change. Religious institutes normally begin as an association formed, with the consent of the diocesan bishop, for the purpose of becoming a religious institute. After time has provided proof of the rectitude, seriousness and durability of the new association, the bishop, having obtained permission of
7490-434: The needs of their apostolate, the Holy See may exempt them from the governance of the local Bishops, bringing them entirely under the authority of the Holy See itself or of someone else. In some respects, for example public liturgical practice, they always remain under the local bishop's supervision. From the earliest times there were probably individual hermits who lived a life in isolation in imitation of Jesus' 40 days in
7597-526: The new Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem, wore a star on their cloaks to symbolize their obeisance to the bishopric of Bethlehem. This order was founded in the 13th century and its members were known as the Bethlehemites. On 18 January 1459, following the taking of Constantinople by the Turks (1453), Pope Pius II founded the knightly Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem for the defence of the island of Lemnos , which Cardinal Ludovico Trevisan , Patriarch of Aquileia , had recaptured from Mohammed II . The island
7704-564: The official refugee camps of 'Azza (Beit Jibrin) and 'Aida in the north and Dheisheh in the south. The influx of refugees significantly transformed Bethlehem's Christian majority into a Muslim one. Jordan retained control of the city until the Six-Day War in 1967, when Bethlehem was captured by Israel, along with the rest of the West Bank . Following the Six-Day War, Israel took control of
7811-403: The particular rule they have adopted and their own constitutions and customs. Their respective timetables (" horarium ") allocate due time to communal prayer, private prayer, spiritual reading, work, meals, communal recreation, sleep, and fixes any hours during which stricter silence is to be observed, in accordance with their own institute's charism . Religious institutes generally follow one of
7918-453: The period of time has elapsed, and lead a life of brothers or sisters in common." A religious institute is one of the two types of institutes of consecrated life ; the other is the secular institute , where its members are "living in the world". Religious institutes come under the jurisdiction of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life . A member of
8025-578: The pope turned over to them the property and revenues of the order of St. Lazarus , the order of Sainte-Marie du Château des Bretons , the order of Bologna , the order of the Holy Sepulchre , the order of Santo Spirito in Sassia , the order of St. Mary of the Crossed Friars , and the order of St. James of Lucca , suppressing all these orders for this purpose. He alluded in a bull to this foundation and
8132-490: The population as 7,520 with 499 in nearby suburbs (including 42 Jews). The 1945 village statistics list Bethlehem's population as 8,820 (6,430 Christians, 2,370 Muslims, and 20 "other"). In 1948, the religious makeup of the city was 85% Christian, mostly of the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic denominations, and 13% Muslim. In the 1967 census taken by Israel authorities, the town of Bethlehem proper numbered 14,439 inhabitants, its 7,790 Muslim inhabitants represented 53.9% of
8239-462: The population in the early 16th century, while the Christian and Muslim populations became equal by the middle of that century. However, there were no Muslim inhabitants counted by the end of the century, with a recorded population of 287 adult male taxpayers. Christians, like all non-Muslims throughout the Ottoman Empire, were required to pay the jizya tax. In 1867, an American visitor describes
8346-473: The population, while the Christians of various denominations numbered 6,231 or 46.1%. In the PCBS's 1997 census, the city had a population of 21,670, including a total of 6,570 refugees , accounting for 30.3% of the city's population. In 1997, the age distribution of Bethlehem's inhabitants was 27.4% under the age of 10, 20% from 10 to 19, 17.3% from 20 to 29, 17.7% from 30 to 44, 12.1% from 45 to 64 and 5.3% above
8453-644: The promulgation of the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven , by the inspiration of a small group of French pilgrims. The Monastic Sisters were founded in France , soon after, and the Monastic Brothers in 1976. Bethlehem Bethlehem ( / ˈ b ɛ θ l ɪ h ɛ m / ; Arabic : بيت لحم , Bayt Laḥm , pronunciation ; Hebrew : בֵּית לֶחֶם Bēṯ Leḥem )
8560-411: The ruling emperor, Constantine the Great , made a pilgrimage to Syria-Palaestina, in the course of which she visited the ruins of Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity was built at her initiative over the cave where Jesus was purported to have been born. During the Samaritan revolt of 529, Bethlehem was sacked and its walls and the Church of the Nativity destroyed; they were rebuilt on the orders of
8667-556: The second caliph, promised that the Church of the Nativity would be preserved for Christian use. A mosque dedicated to Umar was built upon the place in the city where he prayed, next to the church. Bethlehem then passed through the control of the Islamic caliphates of the Umayyads in the 8th century, then the Abbasids in the 9th century. A Persian geographer recorded in the mid-9th century that
8774-556: The second part of the name indicating the deity the local temple was dedicated to. Accordingly, one longstanding suggestion in scholarship is that the name Bethlehem derives from the Mesopotamian or Canaanite fertility god Laḫmu and his consort sister Lahamu , lahmo being the Chaldean word for "fertility". Biblical scholar William F. Albright believed that this hypothesis, first put forth by Otto Schröder [ de ] ,
8881-416: The secular world, such as in teaching, healthcare, social work, while maintaining their distinctiveness in communal living . Several founders required members of their institute not only to profess the three evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience, but also to vow or promise enclosure or loyalty. Religious orders are discerned as: In each instance, the term "regular" means those following
8988-424: The structure's southern transept. In 1099, Bethlehem was captured by the Crusaders , who fortified it and built a new monastery and cloister on the north side of the Church of the Nativity. The Greek Orthodox clergy were removed from their sees and replaced with Latin clerics. Up until that point the official Christian presence in the region was Greek Orthodox. On Christmas Day 1100, Baldwin I , first king of
9095-796: The town as having a population of 3,000 to 4,000, of whom about 100 were Protestant , 300 were Muslim and "the remainder belonging to the Latin and Greek Churches with a few Armenians." Another report from the same year puts the Christian population at 3,000, with an additional 50 Muslims. An 1885 source put the population at approximately 6,000 of "principally Christians, Latins and Greeks" with no Jewish inhabitants. The census of 1922 lists Bethlehem as having 6,658 residents (5,838 Christians, 818 Muslims, and two Jews), increasing in 1931 to 6,804 (5,588 Christians, 1,219 Muslims, five with no religion, and two Jews) with 506 in nearby suburbs (251 Muslims, 216 Christians, and 39 Jews). The 1938 village statistics list
9202-452: The town has been in a steady decline since the mid-twentieth century. In 1947, Christians made up 85% of the population, but by 1998, the figure had declined to 40%. In 2005, the mayor of Bethlehem , Victor Batarseh , explained that "due to the stress, either physical or psychological, and the bad economic situation, many people are emigrating, either Christians or Muslims, but it is more apparent among Christians, because they already are
9309-507: The traditional grave site, stands at the entrance to Bethlehem. According to the Book of Ruth , the valley to the east is where Ruth of Moab gleaned the fields and returned to town with Naomi . In the Books of Samuel , Bethlehem is mentioned as the home of Jesse , father of King David of Israel , and the site of David's anointment by the prophet Samuel . It was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his warriors brought him water when he
9416-465: The two accounts as contradictory; the Gospel of Mark , the earliest gospel, mentions nothing about Jesus having been born in Bethlehem, saying only that he came from Nazareth . Current scholars are divided on the actual birthplace of Jesus: some believe he was actually born in Nazareth, while others still hold that he was born in Bethlehem. Nonetheless, the tradition that Jesus was born in Bethlehem
9523-571: The various works of the ecclesiastical ministry. The author states that nothing further is known of this order, which he describes as a military order. He thus fails to indicate if it was connected with the Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem to which was entrusted in 1247, under the same king, the London hospital that later became known as Bedlam. This property had been donated to the Bishop of Bethlehem , and members of
9630-467: The village in the mid-16th century, three of whom were Muslims. Ottoman tax records suggest that the Christian population was slightly more prosperous or grew more grain than grapes (the former being a more valuable commodity). From 1831 to 1841, Palestine was under the rule of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt . During this period, the town suffered an earthquake as well as the destruction of
9737-547: The west, al-Khadr and Artas to the southwest, and Beit Sahour to the east. Beit Jala and the latter form an agglomeration with Bethlehem. The Aida and Azza refugee camps are located within the city limits. In the center of Bethlehem is its old city. The old city consists of eight quarters, laid out in a mosaic style, forming the area around the Manger Square. The quarters include the Christian an-Najajreh, al-Farahiyeh, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh—the only Muslim quarter. Most of
9844-479: The working population is employed in the industry. Tourism accounts for approximately 65% of the city's economy and 11% of the Palestinian National Authority . The city has more than two million visitors every year. Tourism in Bethlehem ground to a halt for over a decade after the Second Intifada , but gradually began to pick back up in the early 2010s. Schneider Electric operates a facility in
9951-655: Was "certainly accurate". Albright noted that the pronunciation of the name had remained essentially the same for 3,500 years, even if the perceived meaning had shifted over time: "'Temple of the God Lakhmu' in Canaanite, 'House of Bread' in Hebrew and Aramaic , 'House of Meat' in Arabic." While Schröder's theory is not widely accepted, it continues to find favour in academic literature over the later literal translations. Another suggestion
10058-1014: Was born. The Gospel of Matthew mentions Bethlehem as the place of birth, and adds that King Herod was told that a 'King of the Jews' had been born in the town, prompting Herod to order the killing of all the boys who were two years old or under in the town and surrounding area. Joseph , warned of Herod's impending action by an angel of the Lord , decided to flee to Egypt with his family and then later settled in Nazareth after Herod's death. Religious institute (Catholic) Jus novum ( c. 1140 -1563) Jus novissimum ( c. 1563 -1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of
10165-430: Was called a religious order. "Today, in order to know when a vow is solemn it will be necessary to refer to the proper law of the institutes of consecrated life." Should the members want to leave the institute after perpetual vows, they would have to seek a papal indult of dispensation. The benefits of the profession are of a spiritual nature. Daily living in religious institutes is regulated by canon law as well as
10272-570: Was called in Ancient Greek : Βηθλεέμ Greek pronunciation: [bɛːtʰle.ém] and in Latin : Bethleem . In Aramaic, the name of Bethlehem was simply the Hebrew name בית לחם, and was pronounced as Beit Lekhem. Evidence for this spelling can be inferred based on the fact that the spelling ܒܝܬܠܚܡ can be found in the Syriac Aramaic version of the bible in Matthew 2 as well as other parts of
10379-561: Was crushed, the Roman emperor Hadrian converted the Christian site above the Grotto into a shrine dedicated to the Greek god Adonis , to honour his favourite, the Greek youth Antinous . Around 395 CE, Jerome wrote in a letter: "Bethlehem... belonging now to us... was overshadowed by a grove of Tammuz , that is to say, Adonis, and in the cave where once the infant Christ cried, the lover of Venus
10486-419: Was found that this caused the boy's death. The officer was found guilty of illegal use of a weapon and sentenced to 5 months imprisonment, two of them actually in prison doing public service. He was also demoted. On December 21, 1995, Israeli troops withdrew from Bethlehem, and three days later the city came under the administration and military control of the Palestinian National Authority in accordance with
10593-516: Was hiding in the cave of Adullam . Writing in the 4th century, the Pilgrim of Bordeaux reported that the sepulchers of David, Ezekiel , Asaph , Job , Jesse , and Solomon were located near Bethlehem. The Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke represent Jesus as having been born in Bethlehem, known in Aramaic by the Hebrew name בית לחם ( Beit Lekhem ). However, modern scholars regard
10700-438: Was lamented." Many scholars have taken this letter as evidence that the cave of the nativity over which the Church of the Nativity was later built had at one point been a shrine to the ancient Near Eastern fertility god Tammuz. Eusebius, however, mentions nothing about the cave having been associated with Tammuz and there are no other Patristic sources that suggest Tammuz had a shrine in Bethlehem. Peter Welten has argued that
10807-570: Was part of Mandatory Palestine from 1920 to 1948. In the United Nations General Assembly 's 1947 resolution to partition Palestine , Bethlehem was included in the international enclave of Jerusalem to be administered by the United Nations . Jordan captured the city during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Many refugees from areas captured by Israeli forces in 1947–48 fled to the Bethlehem area, primarily settling in what became
10914-526: Was part of Mandatory Palestine until 1948, and later of the West Bank that was annexed by Jordan following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . During the 1967 Six Day War , Bethlehem was occupied by Israel along with the rest of the West Bank. Since the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority , Bethlehem has been designated as part of Area A of the West Bank , nominally rendering it as being under Palestinian control . Movement around
11021-514: Was prominent in the early church. Around 155, the apologist Justin Martyr recommended that those who doubted Jesus was really born in Bethlehem could go there and visit the very cave where he was supposed to have been born. The same cave is also referenced by the apocryphal Gospel of James and the fourth-century church historian Eusebius . After the Bar Kokhba revolt ( c. 132–136 CE )
11128-552: Was regarded as suspect by the Church. Paul of Thebes ( fl. 3rd century), commemorated in the writings of St Jerome , is regarded as the first Christian hermit in Egypt , his withdrawal into the desert apparently having been prompted by the persecution of the Christians at the time. Saint Anthony was the first to leave the world to live in the desert for specifically spiritual reasons; St Athanasius speaks of him as an anchorite . In upper Egypt , sometime around 323, Saint Pachomius
11235-505: Was subdivided into seven quarters. The Basbus family served as the heads of Bethlehem among other leaders during this period. The Ottoman tax record and census from 1596 indicates that Bethlehem had a population of 1,435, making it the 13th largest village in Palestine at the time. Its total revenue amounted to 30,000 akce . Bethlehem paid taxes on wheat, barley and grapes. The Muslims and Christians were organized into separate communities, each having its own leader. Five leaders represented
11342-531: Was the first to be founded in the Americas , and the last religious order with solemn vows to be approved anywhere by the Church before the changes introduced by the 1917 Code of Canon Law . Were founded by Pedro de San José de Betancur , from the Canarias . Their official name is Order of Bethlehemite Brothers ( Ordo Fratrum Bethlemitarum: O.F.B. ), or Bethlehem Brothers ( Hermanos de Belén ). They are also known as
11449-636: Was to be their headquarters, whence they were to oppose the attacks of the Moslems by way of the Aegean Sea and the Hellespont . The order was composed of brother-knights and priests governed by an elective grand-master. The white costume worn by the members was decorated with a red cross and the rule prescribed for them was very similar to that of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem . That their needs might be supplied,
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