Vigil lamp in front of Three-handed Mother of God icon in church of Christ the Savior in Ub

THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

The silver Star of Bethlehem marks the place where the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Savior. The original star was destroyed during unrests in 1847. The inner circle of the star has a inscription in Latin : «Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est» (Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ here ).

Entrance to Basilica

Painting of Grotto in Nativity Church in Bethlehem

Entrance to Basilica

The silver Star of Bethlehem marks the place where the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Savior. The original star was destroyed during unrests in 1847. The inner circle of the star has a inscription in Latin : «Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est» (Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ here ). Above and around the star there are 15 vigil lamps - 6 donated by Orthodox Greeks, 5 by Armenians and 4 by Catholics.

Silver filigree vigil lamps on cieling in Grotto

With the blessing of H.E. Theophylact, Archbishop of Jordan from Jerusalem Patriarchate, eleven old sterling silver lamps were replaced with these silver filigree vigil lamps, donated by Serbian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Funds necessary for manufacturing of these eleven 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.