Bethlehem, January 27, 2026
Photo: jerusalem-patriarchate.info
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land have announced that restoration work will soon begin at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site marking the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
The project is being carried out with the cooperation of the Armenian Patriarchate and under the auspices of the Presidency of the state of Palestine, in accordance with a 2024 presidential decree on the restoration of the Grotto and the historical Status Quo governing the Holy Places.
According to a joint communiqué issued on January 24, the restoration will be performed by the same Italian firm that recently completed rehabilitation work on the Basilica of the Nativity, below which is the Grotto. Preliminary preparations have been completed and work is set to begin.
In addition to the restoration of the Grotto itself, the project includes technical reinforcement of adjacent sections of the structure.
The announcement describes the project as “a unified Christian commitment to preserve the spiritual, historical, and cultural patrimony of the Holy Grotto for future generations” and emphasizes that it will ensure the faithful of all Christian traditions can continue to venerate the site.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has also undergone extensive renovations in recent years.
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