Milk Grotto (Bethlehem), Jerusalem

The Milk Grotto, nestled near the revered Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, stands as a poignant testament to Christian tradition. Dating back to 1872, this humble cave-chapel holds sacred significance as the refuge of the Holy Family during tumultuous times.

Legend has it that during the Massacre of the Innocents, when King Herod ordered the slaughter of all infant boys, Mary sought refuge here, cradling baby Jesus in her arms. As she nursed him, a drop of her milk is said to have fallen to the ground, turning the rock white. This miraculous event has inspired generations of pilgrims, both Christian and Muslim, who believe in the rock's ability to enhance fertility and nursing mothers' milk production, with some taking fragments of the sacred rock as tokens of divine favor.

With roots dating back to the 4th century, the Milk Grotto has remained a site of veneration and reverence. Fragments of the Byzantine church that was built over it in the 5th century were even distributed to churches across Europe in the 7th century. Stepping into the cave-like interior offers a tranquil reprieve from the sweltering summer heat, inviting contemplation and reverence.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Jerusalem. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Milk Grotto (Bethlehem)
Sight Location: Jerusalem, Israel (See walking tours in Jerusalem)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Bethlehem Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Jerusalem, Israel

Create Your Own Walk in Jerusalem

Creating your own self-guided walk in Jerusalem is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles

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Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

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Perched on a hill at the edge of the Judaean Desert, Bethlehem has been known to the world, for more than two millennia, as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The 鈥渟tar of Bethlehem鈥� as well as Christmas carols and hymns are firmly associated with this ancient city in the West Bank, Palestine, and thus, for some visitors, the bustle of a modern city may come as a surprise.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles

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