The Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of...
Hanukkah: “The Festival of Lights”
Hanukkah, in Hebrew, means “dedication” or “inauguration.” The expression “hanukkat-bayt” is used, for example, to refer to a housewarming celebration. What Does Hanukkah mean to the Jewish people For over 2,000 years, Jews have...
The City of David
After Saul’s death, the elders of Judah proclaimed David king in Hebron, and subsequently, the northern tribes also recognized him as king of Israel. The ancient city of David: History and archaeology. The second book of Samuel describes the capture of the city...
Saint Anne: Three Churches, One Tradition
In the Old City of Jerusalem, there is a street called, in Arabic, the street of the Virgin Mary. It passes through the Lion’s Gate, also called, in Arabic, “Gate of the Virgin Mary.” If the street and the gate are named so, it is probably because...