Christmas Church (Bethlehem)
Coordinates: 31 ° 42 ′ 21.6 ″ N , 35 ° 12 ′ 6.7 ″ E
The Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land . Munther Isaac has pastor the Church since June 2017.
history
Ludwig Schneller initiated its construction and the Evangelical Church Building Association had the Christmas church built. Construction began in 1886, financially supported by Americans of German origin. Construction was completed in 1891, but the church could not begin its work due to a lack of government approval in Istanbul , the seat of the Ottoman Empire . In 1893, Empress Auguste Victoria visited Istanbul and obtained the necessary permission.
The Christmas church has been damaged several times in its history. It was bombed in the Six Day War and the church roof was damaged. In 2002 it was again affected by acts of war. In February 2004 an earthquake destroyed the fortification of the tower cross.
Building description
The church is a monument of German historicism.
The church windows are decorated with stained glass and inscribed with quotations from the Bible in German.
literature
- Almut Nothnagle: The Christmas Church in Bethlehem , Publisher: Imhof, Petersberg 2008, 1st edition, ISBN 978-3865684424
