Chapel of the Milk Grotto
The Chapel of the Milk Grotto is a chapel in the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank .
location
The chapel is located in the old town of Bethlehem to the south of the Nativity adjoining gardens on the south side of the Milk Grotto Street.
history
During the child murder in Bethlehem , the Holy Family is said to have hidden in a grotto at this point on their flight to Egypt . While Maria was breastfeeding her child , a few drops of milk should have fallen on the cave floor, which then turned white. Hence the cave is called "Milk Grotto".
The grotto became a destination for pilgrims, especially childless women or couples who prayed for fertility here . A Byzantine church was built over the grotto in the 5th century . In its place, the Franciscans built today's chapel in 1872. In the courtyard of the chapel, remains of colored mosaic floors from the previous building can still be seen.
description
The chapel has an open porch with an arch supported by two columns and a curved gable . Behind the front door, a staircase leads down to the grotto and the underground chapel.
The chapel's chancel is located in the grotto, and its public area is attached to it to the west. It is a roughly square room with a central pillar and four groin vaults. At the apex of the vaults, windows allow light to enter the chapel.
In a natural niche in the cave wall, a group of figures shows the Holy Family on their flight to Egypt. A painting at the far end of the grotto to the side of the chancel depicts Maria ( Maria lactans ) breastfeeding her child .
Stairs to the chapel
Sanctuary
People's area
Maria lactans
literature
- Fabrizio Ardito, Cristina Gambaro, Massimo Acanfora Torrefranca: Milk Grotto . In: Jerusalem, Israel, Petra & Sinai . Dorling Kindersley Verlag, Munich 2018, ISBN 978-3-7342-0171-4 , Bethlehem chapter, p. 197 .
Web links
- Chapel of the Milk Grotto on the City of Bethlehem Official Website
- Chapel of the Milk Grotto on the website of the Joint Services Council for Tourism Development in Bethlehem Governorate
Coordinates: 31 ° 42 ′ 12.3 " N , 35 ° 12 ′ 31.4" E