Shepherds' Field

There are many villages and towns around the city of Bethlehem, Southeast of the City in a town of Beit Sahour is the Shepherds’ Field where the Angel appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Jesus: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). In the area, there is a Greek Orthodox Church that was built over a cave.

Prior to the construction of the present Roman Catholic Chapel in 1953, a Franciscan archaeologist called (Virgilio Canio Carbo) excavated the site and found evidence of a large monastic establishment, whose church dates to the 5th century. On this site, a Chapel was built for the Franciscans by Barluzzi.