The New Church of the Shepherds' Field

In the Shepherds' Field, a site in a small valley with olive trees ( some of them are dated back 2000 years) in the village of Beit Sahour, one kilometer to the east of Bethlehem, there is an underground church which is dedicated to the Synaxis of the Mother of God. On the night of Christ's Nativity, this underground church was the cave of the shepherds who heard the angelic proclamation " Glory to God in the Highest, peace on earth, and good will toward men." (Luke 2:14). The reference to the Shepherds' Field is found in Saint Luke Gospel, chapter 2, verses 18-20. " And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, an Angel of the Lord came upon them; and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were sore afraid. And the Angel of the Lord said unto them: "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, Who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddingly clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: " Glory to God in the Highest, peace on earth, and good will toward men." And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: " Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told to them copncerning this Child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

To read more about the original Shepherds' Monastery Please click here