Church of the Nativity

Winding our way through the Eastern Orthodox sanctuary, our senses were on overload: gold and silver dripped from every surface, incense perfumed the air, melodic meditations lulled us while icons watched over us in amusement as we waited patiently to approach the stairs that would take us down into the place where Jesus was born.

A group from Russia sang with reverence as they took turns kissing the star that marks what the Orthodox Church believes to be the spot. As they dissipated I slipped over to the Catholic spot, a few more steps down in a place intended for the animals in this rock cave below. 

The air was percolated with electricity.  Then we began to sing...silent night, holy night...