Chapel of the Shepherd's Field

The Shepherds' Field Chapel (Arabic: كنيسة حقل الرعاة‎; Hebrew: כנסיית שדה הרועים‎) is a Roman Catholic religious building.[1] in the area of Beit Sahur,[2] southeast of Bethlehem in the West Bank in Palestine. The chapel marks the place where, according to Catholic tradition, angels first announced the birth of Christ.

Shepherds' Field Chapel
Sanctuary Gloria in excelsis Deo
The chapel in 2010
Shepherds' Field Chapel
31°42′26.3″N 35°13′48.4″E
LocationBethlehem
Country Palestine
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
Architecture
Architect(s)Antonio Barluzzi
Completed1953

Biblical relevance

The location is traditionally held to be not only the site of the Annunciation to the shepherds, but also the place mentioned in Ruth 2:2, where Ruth gleaned grain for herself and Naomi.[3]

History

Byzantine period

Prior to the construction of the present chapel in 1953, Franciscan archaeologist Virgilio Canio Corbo excavated the site and found evidence of a large monastic establishment, whose church dates to the 5th century.[4]

Modern church

The Shepherds' Field Chapel was built by the Franciscans in 1953.[3] It is not far from the Greek Orthodox Der El Rawat Chapel, commemorating the same event.[5]

Architecture

The Chapel was designed by architect Antonio Barluzzi. Under the chapel is a large cave.

It has five apses that mimic the structure of a nomadic tent in gray. The words of the angel to the shepherds incristas gold. An image depicting the birth of Jesus can be seen in the place.[6] The Status Quo, a 250-year old understanding between religious communities, applies to the site.[7][8]

  • inside view
  • View of the outside
  • View of access to the cave
  • the Trails
  • "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" chapel

See also

References
  1. Murphy-O'Connor, J. (2008-02-28). The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191647666.
  2. "Midnight Mass at Bethlehem | Magnificat Media | Creation and production of engaging educational content". Magnificat Media | Creation and production of engaging educational content. 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. Tilbury, Neil (1989-10-01). Israel, a travel survival kit. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9780864420152.
  4. Shomali, Q. and Shomali, Sawsan: “A Guide to Bethlehem & the Holy Land, Bethlehem University
  5. Humphreys, Andrew (1996-01-01). Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 9780864423993.
  6. Jenkins, Ferrell (2013-12-25). "Visiting the shepherd's fields near Bethlehem". Ferrell's Travel Blog. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  7. UN Conciliation Commission (1949). United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine Working Paper on the Holy Places.
  8. Cust, L. G. A. (1929). The Status Quo in the Holy Places. H.M.S.O. for the High Commissioner of the Government of Palestine.
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