Posted on 02/18/2016 6:46:09 PM PST by marshmallow
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) - After two years of painstaking work, experts have completed the initial phase of a delicate restoration project at the Church of the Nativity, giving a much-needed face-lift to one of Christianity's holiest sites.
The project, partially funded by the Palestinians and conducted by a team of Palestinian and international experts, is the biggest restoration at the iconic church in some 600 years. The removal of centuries of dust has left Crusader-era mosaics sparkling in sunlight filtering through brand new windows. Structural repairs on the fragile rooftop and windows have been completed and art treasures have been returned to their delicate elegance.
Although the Palestinians are overwhelmingly Muslim, they consider the church a national treasure and one of their most visited tourist sites, and President Mahmoud Abbas has been actively involved in the project.
Ziad al-Bandak, who leads the Palestinian committee in charge of the restoration, calls what has been accomplished so far nothing short of "revolutionary."
(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...
Obviously these muzzies are apostate, or they would have obliterated the site and built a mosque on top of it, already.
Who’s smarter than me and knows the angle?
Ya got me.
Pythagoras?
Jesus is only mentioned as a holy man in the koran (and, no, I will not capitalize it). They also revere Moses. AP spin to think muslims are respectful of Christianity.
About time, after they trashed the place over a decade ago now...
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Getting things ready for His return?
Church of Nativity a Mess, but Suffers Little Permanent Damage
May 10, 2002 FoxNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/05/10/church-nativity-mess-but-suffers-little-permanent-damage.html
The standoff began April 2 when more than 200 Palestinians, including wanted militants, policemen and civilians, ran into the church ahead of Israeli troops.
Aftermath
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem reeked of urine and was strewn with dirty pots and pans, leftover food and mattresses Friday afternoon, but emerged with little permanent damage as the 39-day siege ended with Israel pulling its forces out of the city.
Journalists touring the basilica, one of Christianity’s holiest shrines, saw two wooden altars in the Armenian section and a marble baptismal covered with leftover food and dirty dishes.
The stone floor was strewn with dirty blankets and mattresses, lighters, sunglasses, a toothpaste tube, a bottle of aftershave, plastic bags, cigarette butts, a comb and large cooking pots. A stove and gas canisters for cooking stood to one side of the central aisle.
There were no toilets inside the basilica and to get to facilities elsewhere required crossing an open courtyard, with the risk of Israeli sniper-fire.
The panes of several arched windows near the ceiling were broken, but there appeared to be no other damage. A 12th-century mosaic near the ceiling, which one priest had said was hit by bullets, appeared in good condition. A Franciscan study hall next to the church was gutted by fire — Israel and the Palestinians accused each other of sparking the flames — and a statue of the Virgin Mary was hit by a bullet.
The small birth grotto, a few steps below the basilica, was in pristine condition. Priests said some gunmen and foreigners had initially slept there because it was the warmest spot, but agreed to leave so clergy could conduct daily services there.
One priest complained the Palestinian militants had desecrated the church by smoking and drinking alcohol.
A Bethlehem Christian, 18-year-old Sandy Shaheen, was in tears as she looked at the interior of the basilica. “This is the place where Jesus was born. I can’t believe this is the house of God — just look at it,” said Shaheen, who worships at the Church of the Nativity every Sunday.
Father Nicholas, a Franciscan priest from Mexico, said the Palestinian gunmen kept their weapons with them at all times, and in the first days took candelabras, icons, candles and “anything that looked like gold.”
Reporters saw a cupboard filled with food — more than 20 bags of lentils and rice, cans of beans and cooking oil. For extended periods during the siege, the gunmen had said food was running low and those inside subsisted on one meal a day. Some said they had resorted to making soup from lemon leaves growing in the courtyard.
The day’s events in Bethlehem began shortly before 7 a.m., when the first of the Palestinian gunmen walked through the low-slung Gate of Humility, the main door of the 4th-century basilica. The others followed, emerging into the hazy sunlight of Manger Square. Some waved or flashed victory signs, and one dropped to the ground, kneeling in Muslim prayer. Two men were carried out on stretchers.
By midmorning, all Palestinians had left the church, but the standoff was not over. Ten foreigners, who had slipped into the church May 2 in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians, refused to come out — demanding a lawyer and insisting on holding a news conference.
Israeli riot police later entered the compound and removed them by force, with the approval of exasperated priests. The 10, including four Americans, were detained ahead of deportation. Israeli police and soldiers swept the church and said they found 40 explosive devices, several booby-trapped. However, Israeli officials offered little detail.
In their joy over regaining control of the shrine, Greek and Franciscan priests conducted a service and bells pealed for several minutes.
Around sundown, Israeli troops and armored vehicles began leaving Manger Square, and the troop pullback was completed a few hours later.
Friday’s deal ended a week of negotiations, with intense involvement by the United States, the Vatican and the EU.
What a false PR plug for their beloved palestinians by the lefty Associated Press.
lol.
big shot.
it took two minutes to figure that out. :)
:)
saw the menu. They went to Italy?
You’re paesano? :)
Money. It’s a huge tourist site.
hmm. that word is universal.
Of course, the AP ignores how the Palestinians defiled the Church several years ago.
“Who’s smarter than me and knows the angle?”
Tourist dollars.
Yes definitely Paisano. Been over there 5 times.
more paesano than me :)
been there twice. Sicily Mom’s mom was from there. her dad too.
know some sicilian, but could barely communicate with a friend’s friend from Naples :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.