Church of Saint Catherine, Bethlehem

Church of Saint Catherine, Bethlehem tickets: which one to buy

The Church of Saint Catherine stands in Bethlehem, directly adjoining the Church of the Nativity on Manger Square, and entry is free. It is the Roman Catholic parish church of Bethlehem, run by the Franciscans, while the Church of the Nativity is shared by Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic communities. Almost all tours of Bethlehem visit both churches, often with the Milk Grotto and Shepherds' Field, usually on a half-day trip from Jerusalem;

visitors cross a checkpoint, so passports are needed. Tours with Palestinian guides based in Bethlehem are recommended. From Saint Catherine's, stairs lead down to the caves beneath, including the Grotto of Saint Jerome, which connects to the Grotto of the Nativity. The church is best known worldwide as the place from which the Catholic Midnight Mass is broadcast at Christmas. Modest dress is required. Olive wood carving shops around the square sell nativity scenes made by local craftsmen.

Visiting Church of Saint Catherine, Bethlehem: what to see

A church was built here by the Crusaders in the twelfth century, and the Franciscans took over the site in 1347. The present church was built in 1881 in a neo-Gothic style, incorporating remains of the Crusader monastery, and it was renovated in the late twentieth century. In the courtyard in front stands a statue of Saint Jerome, who lived in Bethlehem in the fourth century and translated the Bible into Latin, the Vulgate, and a cloister with Crusader columns. Inside, the church is bright and simple, with an altar and a statue of the Child Jesus that is placed in the manger at the Christmas liturgy.

Beneath the church, caves include the chapel of Saint Joseph, the chapel of the Holy Innocents, recalling the massacre ordered by Herod, and the cave where Saint Jerome is said to have lived and worked. A locked door connects these caves with the Grotto of the Nativity. The cloister, with its stone columns and arches, was restored in the twentieth century, and it offers a quiet place to rest. The organ of the church is used for the Christmas broadcasts. A chapel holds relics and icons donated by pilgrims. The Franciscan convent adjoining the church runs schools and social projects in Bethlehem. The Grotto of Saint Jerome includes his tomb, although his remains were moved to Rome.

Church of Saint Catherine, Bethlehem opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, with services on Sundays and major feasts. Christmas Eve is the most famous day, with the Latin Patriarch's procession into Bethlehem and the Midnight Mass, for which tickets must be obtained in advance; Manger Square fills with crowds and celebrations. The Orthodox and Armenian Christmases follow in January. Spring and autumn are pleasant, and summer is hot. The political situation and checkpoints can affect access, so check the latest advice. Allow about half an hour for Saint Catherine's and the caves, and combine it with the Church of the Nativity next door. The Bethlehem Peace Center on Manger Square offers exhibitions and tourist information.