Bethlehem - MILK GROTTO
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Bethlehem
Identification:
Crypta lactea. The cave church is associated with legends according to which, Mary suckled at this place Jesus, and a drop of milk fell and whtened the walls of the cave. It has been always visiting by woman. The first church was built here in the end of the forth or beginning of the fifth century (perhaps by Paula who lived in Bethlehem and died in 404), while the veneration itself could be earlier, from the forth century. Also from the seventh century stones from the cave started to be sent to churches in Europe as sacred relics. The church was first devoted to Virgin Mary, then it was dedicated to Paula and then to St. Nicholas. Under the last name it appears in a bulla of Pope Gregory XI in 1375.
Church name:
MILK GROTTO
Functional Type:
Memorial
Dedication:
Virgin Mary
Church type:
Cave church
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
219,875.00
623,419.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
169.00
123.00
Geographical region:
Judean Hills
Topographical location:
Behind the Church of Nativity, to the south-east from it
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
10 km south from Jerusalem
Distance from nearest settlement:
In Bethlehem
Distance from Roman roads:
Near the road from Jerusalem to to the Negev and Sinai
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Jerusalem
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Literary sources
Archaeological remains
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The plan of the church is polygonal and irregular, as it was built inside the system of caves. The remains of the early walls and plenty of secondary used architectural members are discernible. They epitomize the early dating of the place. There are at least three small chapels in the space, which were constructed in modern times. Each is oriented to different direction.
Description
Small finds
Architectural Evolution
| Dating material | Phase no. | Century | Within century |
|---|---|---|---|
According to the historical sources, it was built before 404. | Phase 1 | 4th c. | Late |
Abandonment | Unknown |
Conclusions:
To modern church was constructed on the foundations of the earlier building in 1872.