Shepherds Fields
The Shepherds Fields are located on the road just east of the city of Bethlehem, in the small Palestinian village of Beit Sahour. This site is one of the holiest in Israel to the Christian religion and many pilgrims visit each year: it was in the Shepherds Fields that the Biblical shepherds saw the Star of Nativity. The Shepherds Fields are also believed to be the spot that Ruth and Naomi illegally collected fruits from the local harvest en route to Bethlehem as mentioned in the Old Testament.
As is true with many Christian holy sites, the Greek Orthodox and Franciscan Churches disagree about the exact spot of the sacred occurrence, and thus, run two separate churches in the area. Kanisat al-Ruwat is the name of the Greek Orthodox Church; it can be found amidst fields and boasts remains of the ancient church with mosaics, frescoes and steps. A new church has been built above the old one, featuring restored areas of the 4th century building and a monastery.
Just a short distance away is Khirat Siyar al-Ghanim, the Franciscan site at Shepherds Fields. Here, visitors will find ruins of a monastery used in the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries, as well as a modern chapel and church alongside the natural caves.
The Shepherds Fields also houses the YMCA of Beit Sahour, the location in which Protestants believe the event to have taken place, as well as the Khirbat Abu Ghunain monastery and the Bir al-Qutt monastery a mile outside of Bethlehem.