Shepherds' Fields - Franciscan
The Fransiscan Shepherds' Field is located a few miles east of Bethlehem in the town of Beit Sahour, and it is a site belonging to the Catholic Church. It is believed that this vast field is the location where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Jesus Christ.
In the 1950s, the Catholic Church commissioned the renowned Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi to design a church at the site of the Shepherds' Field. He designed the church in the shape of a tent, symbolizing the life of the shepherds and mimicking the temporary shelters that were prevalent in the fields.
Extensive archaeological excavations at the Shepherds' Field site have uncovered compelling evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years. The discovered artifacts include oil presses, caves, and burial chambers from the 1st century AD, indicating the presence of shepherds during the time of Jesus. Archaeologists have also found remains from the Byzantine era, between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, when the site was inhabited by Christian monks.