Wooden Relic of Jesus Manger on Display in Jerusalem

Varieties

November 30th, 10:02am

Jerusalem - Asharq Al-Awsat

A fragment of a wooden relic, reputed to be from Jesus' manger, is displayed in Jerusalem's Notre Dame, November 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A fragment of wood reputed to be from the manger where Jesus was laid after his humble birth went on display in Jerusalem on Friday, ahead of its transfer to Bethlehem for the official launch of the Christmas season. The wood piece, just a few centimeters long, was once kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. It was handed over earlier this week to the custodian of the Bethlehem church, who said it brought "great honor to believers and pilgrims in the area". It was unveiled to the public at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, encased in a silver-colored ornamental table-top stand, and will later be taken to Bethlehem, Reuters reported. There, it is expected to be placed inside Saint Catherine's Church, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, in time for the lighting of the Christmas tree, the news agency said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014821/wooden-relic-jesus-manger-display-jerusalem