THE PLACE OF THE NATIVITY.
The Doctor explained that there were two stairways descending into the grotto; that on the right being exclusively used by the Greeks and Armenians, while the other belonged to the Latins. As their guide was of the Latin Church they descended by the stairway on the left, and soon found themselves in the spot revered throughout all Christendom—the place where the founder of our religion was born.
Near the foot of the stairway they came to a niche in the wall of rock, and in front of it was a marble slab set in the floor, with a silver star in the centre. On the star was the inscription:
"HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS EST."
("Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary.")
Reverentially they gazed at the star—the star of Bethlehem. Pious pilgrims knelt and kissed it; the monks as they entered bowed low before it; voices were hushed, and the air was filled with adoration. The low roof, the wall of "living rock," the swinging censers, the glowing lamps, all seemed to tell that the place was one of sanctity, and earthly thoughts should here give way to those of heaven.
Over the star sixteen lamps of silver were burning, and they burn there from beginning to end of the year, and year after year their light is never allowed to become dim. The quarrels of the factions rage over the silver star; the lamps are parcelled among them—six to the Greeks, and five each to the Armenians and Latins. Over the star is an altar which belongs to them alternately; it is ordinarily kept plain, and is only dressed by each sect when its turn comes to possess it.