Bethlehem, Palestine

Bethlehem is the traditional birthplace of Jesus. The Basilica of the Nativity is built on the traditional birth site. The photo below reveals the 4-foot high entrance reportedly designed in the 1600s to keep men on horses from entering.

The photo below is of an altar within the basilica.

The photo with the star marks the traditional site of Jesus' birth.

The next photo depicts a person praying at the altar of the traditional manger site where Jesus was lay following his birth.

The Church of St Catherine is a Roman Catholic Church next to the Basilica of the Nativity. It was built in the 1800s and is reported to be above the cave complex where Jesus was born. Earlier churches were built on the site with evidence of one from the era of the Crusaders (c 1100s).

This church is the site of the midnight mass broadcast each Christmas Eve.

St Catherine lived in Alexandria Egypt in the 300s. Her conversion story is based on a vision of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrated her feast day 24-25 November.

Inside the Church of St Catherine

A window in the Church of St Catherine

The caves below the church are connected to the Basilica of the Nativity. According to tradition, Jerome ( Statue below)  translated the Latin Bible there. 

Notes

Photos are from 1996

My website is www.suttong.com

Google Map Church of Nativity Bethlehem

My wife and were on a tour organized by EO of Lakeland, Florida: Link Educational Opportunity Tours

Nazareth Israel

Nazareth is a large city in Northern Israel. In Christian history, Nazareth was the home town of Jesus and the traditional place where Mary learned from the angel Gabriel that she would become pregnant by God's Spirit with a son who would be called Jesus. 

The photo above is a church built on the traditional site where Mary learned of her pregnancy. The event is referred to as the annunciation. And the church is the Church of St. Gabriel. It is a Greek-Orthodox Church.

Scholars estimate that Nazareth was a small village of only a few hundred people during the time of Jesus. The city is mentioned several times in the gospels and Jesus is known as "Jesus of Nazareth."

A few photos from inside the Church of St Gabriel.

The photo below is the traditional site of Mary's Well named for the place where she is believed to have received the angel's message.

Notes

My wife and were on a tour organized by EO of Lakeland, Florida: Link Educational Opportunity Tours

The photos are from our trip in 1996.

Related post:  Bethlehem

Google Map of Nazareth west of Lake Galilee

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Website www.suttong.com

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St Patrick and Down Cathedral Northern Ireland

Down Cathedral, Northern Ireland/ Geoff Sutton 2019

Down Cathedral, on English Street, atop Down Hill, is clearly visible above the town of Downpatrick, County Down, Ulster Province, Northern Ireland. 

Christians have worshipped here for about 1,600 years. It is also the traditional site for the burial of the British missionary, St Patrick, as well as Saints Brigid and Columba (also called Columbkille, Colmcille).

The current Cathedral has been rebuilt on the site of an old Benedictine Monastery dating from 1183. Inside are box pews, stained glass windows, and a box organ.

Down Cathedral, Northern Ireland / Geoff Sutton 2019

St Patrick is honoured for his missionary work in Ireland. According to minimal writings and traditions, he was born in Roman Britain, captured as a youth by pirates and enslaved.

 

He escaped back to Britain and saw a vision calling him to Ireland.

He appears to have lived most of his life in the 400s.

The traditional burial site of St Patrick is on the left  as you face the Cathedral.

You can see Celtic Crosses in the front and in the back of the Cathedral.

Nearby the Cathedral is the Southwell School and Almshouses built for poor boys and girls in 1733.

A visitor's centre is below Down Hill.

You can learn more about St Patrick's life here. Although buried somewhere in Ireland, no one is sure of his birthplace in Great Britain.

Cathedral Admission: There is no charge to enter the Cathedral or visit the burial site.
Cathedral website:  http://downcathedral.org/

*****

Visitor Centre Admission: The fees for the St Patrick Centre are on the website
     https://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/

Shops: There is a store in the Cathedral and in the Visitor's Centre.

Toilets: Available in the Visitor's Centre.

Food: There are places to eat near the Visitor's Centre.


If you visit the British Isles and Ireland, you may find this book interesting.

Mind the Gap  on AMAZON

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Chester Cathedral England

Chester Cathedral is a working place of worship as well as a trove of English history.

Originally, a Benedictine abbey was founded here in 1092 (abbey of St. Werburgh). However, there are references suggesting the possibility that it was the site of worship since the Roman era.

You can still see parts of the old Norman building. The church has been rebuilt and modified over the centuries. The current Gothic style building took 275 years to create. In 1541 it was known as the cathedral of Christ and St. Mary.

Chester Cathedral was one of six cathedrals "refounded" by Henry VIII following his break with Rome.

Inside the cathedral complex you will find open spaces, a falconry, and gardens.

The stained glass windows are mostly of recent origin (19th-20th century). Earlier windows were lost to Parliamentary troops during the English Civil War. The cathedral also suffered some damage in World War II.



















The art work is magnificent.





The massive organ is impressive.




In addition to walking about the Cathedral, we purchased a guided tour to the top of the Cathedral.

As part of the tour, we learned about the clock and bells. Only a couple of bells remain in the Cathedral. Other bells are in a separate clock tower building built in the 20th century.




In addition to great view of the inner courtyard and campus buildings, you can see much of Chester, the hills of Northern Wales, and a glimpse of Liverpool from atop the Cathedral roof. We thought the tour worthwhile.





When we visited in 2018, a LEGO model of the cathedral was under construction. Visitors can add to the project for a small donation. The model is 4m by 2m and, on completion, will include 350,000 bricks. You can follow their progress on the cathedral website.




Check the cathedral website for current information about hours, fees, and so forth.

Website: https://chestercathedral.com

More on Chester: http://suttontravels.blogspot.com/2018/06/chester-england-worth-visit.html

Visiting Notes

Entry is free

It is open most days but check the website for visiting hours and service times.

There is a store with a range of gifts for people of all ages and a wide price range.

There is a cafe, which serves baked goods and meals.

The toilets were clean and well maintained

There are several eateries nearby. We enjoyed a take-away lunch on a bench outside the main entrance facing the old town hall.

The falcon event looked interesting but when we watched from the walls, it seemed as if the falcon was reluctant to return as many attempted bird calls went unanswered.

The tour to the height of the cathedral requires a certain level of fitness and tolerance of heights and closed-in spaces. The winding staircases are narrow at points and we needed to duck our heads even though we are not tall persons.

Read more history at this British History link.

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Winchester Cathedral

I attended services during Easter week and toured the Cathedral to get a sense of this sacred place that reveals so much of English history.

I was there in 2017 and viewed two special events. Near the entrance are storyboards illustrating highlights of the life of Jane Austen whose floor grave marker is near a brass wall plaque. The year marks the 200th anniversary of her death in 1817 at a cottage near the Cathedral. Jane had come to Winchester for treatment of a particular physician but her health declined and she died at age 41. She was buried in the cathedral. The marker did not celebrate her works but a wall plaque added later corrects this oversight. As her fame grew, a memorial window was added above the plaque.






The second event was a display of the 12th century Winchester Bible, which is the magnificent work of one scribe. One of the four volumes was available and opened to an example of the Latin script and colourful artwork. The Bible is thought to have been commissioned by the Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror, in 1160. Staff and storyboards provide more information. There's more available from touchscreen presentations. Photography was not permitted.

Near the Bible exhibit is the oldest section of the Cathedral. You can see examples of art on the walls. And not far away is the oldest area of floor tiles dating from the 13th century.

13th Century tiles, Winchester Cathedral

Also nearby is the crypt, which is open to the public.

Crypt, Winchester Cathedral

The Cathedral is rich in the history of English Kings and church leaders. The remains of many are identified throughout the tour. Perhpas the most famous is King Alfred (849 to 899) who was buried in the Old Minster. In one of the mortunary chests are the reported bones of King Canute (aka Cnut) and Queen Emma.

There is much beauty to be appreciated and photography is permitted with a few exceptions.

A few more photos and a short video clip.

There is a fee for the tour but not for attending services.

There is a gift shop and toilets.

Learn more at the website Winchester Cathedral.

Address: 9 The Close Winchester  Hampshire  SO23 9LS, United Kingdom