Vigil Lamp in front of "Virgin Mary of Bethlehem" icon, in Church of Nativity, Bethlehem - Holy Land
Icon silver filigree vigil lamp consisting of 11 elements in silver filigree decorated with with 6 rubies, 53 garnets and 35 M.O.P.s . The lamp is suspended on 3 chains with filigree apples.
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THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
Situated in the center of the town of Bethlehem, The Church of the Nativity was built over the site where Jesus Christ was born in a manger. The only major surviving church in the Holy Lands from early Christian times, The Church of the Nativity was built around the 4th century A.D. Shortly after the Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity, his mother Helena built the magnificent church, adorning it with mosaics, frescoes and marble.The church of the Nativity is one of the oldest church buildings of the world. Still more important is the fact that since Justinian in the early sixth century services have been held there without a break. The first durable church structure was built to the order of the emperor Constantin early in the 4th century after christianity had been established as a religion in the roman empire.
Model of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
The facade of the Church of the Nativity is encircled by the high walls of the three convents: the Franciscan on the northeast side, the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox, on the southeast side. The Basilica is a rectangle 53.9m long, the nave is 26.2m wide. The Manger is situated on the north side of the Grotto, and opposite the Manger, an Alter is dedicated to the Wise Men who came to Bethlehem from the East bearing gifts to Baby Jesus. The Grotto is rectangular in shape: length is 12.3m, and the width is 3.15m.
Virgin Mary of Bethlehem icon with silver filigree vigil lamp
Normally these houses consisted of one single room which was used for eating, sleeping and living. Often the space was divided into different levels, the bottom level to keep the animals. In this way luke’s commentary that “there was no room in the inn” for Joseph and Mary may have referred to the overcrowded upper level and the two found a space below with the animals. The common notion that the place of the manger was in a stable is part of a western tradition.
Virgin Mary of Bethlehem icon with silver filigree vigil lamp
Funds necessary for manufacturing of this vigil lamps were collected among Serbian Orthodox believers, by efforts of Mrs. Gordana Sipka from Novi Sad and Sister Dorothea from Church of Nativity.
Precious stones were donated by grace of Mr. Dusan and Mrs. Leonora Vulovic from Belgrade.
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