Luke 2: 8-18 The Shepherds Keeping Watch

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

The History & Archaeology of the Site

The site is about one mile east of Bethlehem. It was established as the site where the angels appeared to the shepherds in about the 4th century AD. There are actually two sites today, one preserved by the Greek Orthodox, and the other by the Roman Catholics. The site consists of an ancient cave with an altar and a relatively new chapel donated by Canadian Catholics.