"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt" (Mathew 2:13-14).
Milk Grotto in Bethlehem is a holy place to both Christians and Muslims. According to early traditions, Virgin Mary stopped here to breast feed baby Jesus during the flight to Egypt. Afterall, this is Israel, the land of folklores and traditions; no wonder every nook and corner has its share to add, accumulated through generations. The tradition goes further that a few drops of Mary's breast milk fell down and turned the stones of this cave white! In the middle ages, the soft white stones in this church were exported to many European churches under the name of The Virgin's Milk! Strange enough, many still believe that the scrapings from these stones boost the quantity of a mother's milk and enhance fertility! Another old tradition identifies the cave as the burial site of the innocent infants slaughtered by King Herod at the time of Jesus' birth (Mathew 2:16-18). The only thing I can assure you is that, the stones are still white and if you rub your fingers on the walls and roofs of the modern church, a white powder will attach to your fingers.
The first known church was built on the site by St. Paula and dedicated to Virgin Mary (4th century). In 14th century, the church was known as the Church of St. Nicholas. The present church was built around the Grotto by the Franciscan Catholics in 1872 and later remodelled in 1934-35.
Milk Grotto in Bethlehem is a holy place to both Christians and Muslims. According to early traditions, Virgin Mary stopped here to breast feed baby Jesus during the flight to Egypt. Afterall, this is Israel, the land of folklores and traditions; no wonder every nook and corner has its share to add, accumulated through generations. The tradition goes further that a few drops of Mary's breast milk fell down and turned the stones of this cave white! In the middle ages, the soft white stones in this church were exported to many European churches under the name of The Virgin's Milk! Strange enough, many still believe that the scrapings from these stones boost the quantity of a mother's milk and enhance fertility! Another old tradition identifies the cave as the burial site of the innocent infants slaughtered by King Herod at the time of Jesus' birth (Mathew 2:16-18). The only thing I can assure you is that, the stones are still white and if you rub your fingers on the walls and roofs of the modern church, a white powder will attach to your fingers.
The first known church was built on the site by St. Paula and dedicated to Virgin Mary (4th century). In 14th century, the church was known as the Church of St. Nicholas. The present church was built around the Grotto by the Franciscan Catholics in 1872 and later remodelled in 1934-35.
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