First Nativity Scene – “No Room in the Inn”
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (The Prophet Isaiah, 700 years before the birth of Jesus)
What would be the location of the first Nativity scene? Where would this foretold Child – this Son — be born? A palace? A nice hospital with a maternity ward? Maybe the Presidential Suite in the Bethlehem Hotel? Nope, this special child was probably born in someone’s basement – actually, a cave.
Homes in first-century Bethlehem were pretty simple — usually two rooms built on top of a cave-like basement. The larger room was dedicated to a family’s cooking, living, and sleeping. The smaller room (known in Greek as the “kataluma”) was for storage and occasional guests. The cave-basement was for the livestock. A Jewish family relied heavily on their animals for meat, milk, and ploughs. Therefore, they brought their valuable creatures inside at night to avoid robbers and predators.
History records that when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the “kataluma” – meaning, the guest room. Therefore, they ended up in the cave with the animals. So, where did we get the idea that there was “no room for them in the inn?” Especially since there’s a totally different Greek word – “pandocheion” – that means, “inn for travelers.” Who knows…?
“Kataluma” was the word used in the Gospel accounts because Mary and Joseph probably went to stay at the home of an extended family member. And because this was a crazy time of travel for a lot of people during the Roman census, other family members probably got there first and called “dibs” on the guest room. Classy, huh? Mary spends over a week on a dirty trail, she’s obviously very pregnant, and some distant second cousin says, “Hey, there’s a sleeping bag in the smelly cave down there… Hope that works for you.”
First Nativity Scene – Church of the Nativity
Where was this house in Bethlehem? Where was this cave? Do we know the location of the first Nativity scene?
The first Nativity scene probably occurred at a location now covered by the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Remarkably, scholars consider this the oldest standing church in Israel. Originally built by Emperor Constantine’s mother, Helena, in the 4th century, Emperor Justinian rebuilt the current structure in the mid-6th century. Later, the Persians spared the church when they were conquering the area in the early 7th century. Even though they were destroying everything with Christian connections, they came into the Church of the Nativity, looked up, and saw depictions of the Magi – the Wise Men in the Christmas story — on the walls. The invaders realized these guys looked just like them, so they protected the church in honor of their likely ancestors.
According to very early tradition, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a cave below this altar. The cave — or “Grotto” as it’s known here in the church — is marked by a silver star.
The tradition that the birth of Jesus – the first Nativity scene — occurred at the location marked by the Church of the Nativity goes way back. This was a very early pilgrimage site marked by very early Christians. By the mid-2nd century, Justin Martyr and other church fathers were telling the same story. By the mid-3rd century, Origen was confirming this exact location. When Helena came to town in the 4th century looking to build churches over biblical sites, the locals said this location was a solid choice for the birthplace of Jesus – the first Nativity scene.
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.