Located approximately in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity is built on what is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. Originally constructed as a basilica in the 4th century, during the reign of Emperor Constantine I. The original church was largely destroyed in 529, and subsequently rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I. Since the 12th century, and possibly earlier, the church has been supported by monastic communities. Today monastic communities affiliated with the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Church, each of which controls part of the physical structure. The church was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2012.
SOURCES:
"Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem." UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed December 18, 2015. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1433.
Tucker, Abigail. "Endangered Site: Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem." Smithsonian Magazine. March 2009. Accessed December 18, 2015. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/endangered-site-church-of-the-nativity-bethlehem-51647344/.
