Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world visited the Basilica of the Nativity this year 2018. Also, for Bethlehem, in Palestine, it was a record year. Fr. ARTEMIO VÍTORES GONZÁLEZ, ofm Guardian of the Franciscan Convent of St. Catherine "ad Nativitatem" I would say the most used word is incredible. Because in recent years there has been a great increase, and this year it is almost - you can say – exaggerated. In the sense that it is almost impossible to enter the Grotto, at times the wait is wait can be up to 2 and a half hours… of course, this creates tension, however, it is a marvel! Together with Fr. Eugenio Alliata, archaeologist from the Studium Biblicum, we visited the site of the birth of Jesus, revered since the first century of the Christian era. Fr. EUGENIO ALLIATA, ofm Archaeologist – Studium Biblicum Franciscanum- Jerusalem The Gospel does not tell us much about the places where the main occurrences of Jesus' life and death took place. We only have a little information from the Gospel, but from history of primitive Christianity we have some greater information. It is true that Christianity in itself is not in need of locations, because its faith is in people, not in places, but since the beginning, location has always had an attraction for the human soul, the soul which wants to see, wants to listen, wants to touch. The Grotto must always be presented in its natural state. The memory of the exact place of the birth of Jesus always to remain alive in time, as it is written in the original testaments. Fr. EUGENIO ALLIATA, ofm Archaeologist – Studium Biblicum Franciscanum- Jerusalem In the fourth century, another very important Christian writer; St. Jerome who came from Rome to live in Bethlehem and remained for more than 30 years, he too is adamant in the fact that the place of Jesus' birth was a cave. Indeed, it is his force of thought, because he says: "You see that the creator of the universe has chosen a small hole in the earth to become "Man" and from there began the Redemption of humanity". After the edict of Constantine, of 313 AD, freedom of worship was proclaimed and a period of rebirth began for all the holy places. With the Council of Nicaea and thanks to the strong will of Queen Helen, after appropriate excavations, the building of the Basilica of the Nativity began, which gave dignity back to the place of the birth of the Messiah. The construction site ended in 333 AD, and Bethlehem immediately became an important religious center. With the latest restoration works on the Basilica, wonderful mosaics have been uncovered, and which can be admired by us today. Fr. EUGENIO ALLIATA, ofm Archaeologist – Studium Biblicum Franciscanum- Jerusalem The mosaics, which were discovered recently, cleaned and restored completely, are the work of the Crusaders. They are on the walls of the Basilica of Emperor Justinian; which means that the Constantinian Basilica had been destroyed. The new Byzantine Basilica was built; which stood for a very long time, meanwhile so many other churches in the region were also destroyed. Either because of its particular strength and solidity or because of its importance, it has been preserved from destruction; in fact, it is preserved until this day with the exception of the roof. The construction is that of Constantine, more than 1400 years ago. Fr. EUGENIO ALLIATA, ofm Archaeologist – Studium Biblicum Franciscanum- Jerusalem Higher up on the uppermost level, next to the windows that illuminate the central part of the building, were angelic processions. The angels are represented as having just descended from heaven, while they are walking on earth, but their wings are at least partly raised towards the sky, one bent one raised, typical of doves... They are angels walking towards the Grotto and probably destined to meet, and to venerate the child; they represent the first who went to venerate the child; none of the men knew anything, but the angels did, because they were the ones who went to give the announcement to the shepherds in the field. Since the announcement to the shepherds until our present day ... the little cave of the birth of Jesus has been venerated….