Milk Grotto, Bethlehem
Exterior and entrance of the Milk Grotto, Bethlehem. Photo
Shira Karp.
Stairs into the Milk Grotto. Photo
upyernoz.
Altar. Photo
Shira Karp.
Altar. Photo
Shira Karp.
The Milk Grotto (officially Magharet Sitti Mariam, "Grotto of the Lady Mary") is a serene grotto only a few minutes' walk from Manger Square in Bethlehem.
This grotto, with a Franciscan chapel built above it, is considered sacred because tradition has it that the Holy Family took refuge here during the Slaughter of the Innocents, before their flight into Egypt. Tradition has it that while Mary was nursing Jesus here, a drop of milk fell to the ground, turning it white.
The irregularly shaped grotto is hollowed out of the soft white rock. A church was built here by the 5th century, and mosaic fragments on the terrace of the grotto, with geometrical motifs and crosses, are thought to belong to this time.
Both Christians and Muslims believe scrapings from the stones in the grotto boost the quantity of a mother's milk and enhance fertility. Mothers usually mix it in their drinking water; would-be mothers place the rock under their mattress.
There is also an old tradition that identifies this as the burial site of the young victims of Herod's Slaughter of the Innocents. (There is a chapel dedicated to them in the caves beneath the Church of St. Catherine.)
Quick Facts
| Location: | Milk Grotto Street, Bethlehem, West Bank |
| Contact: | 02 274 2425 |
| Hours: | Open daily |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources
- Bethlehem Map - explore Bethlehem with our interactive aerial map
- Getting There - how to get to Bethlehem
- Bethlehem Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews and ratings from travelers
- Bethlehem Travel Forum - answers, tips and advice
Article Sources
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Milk Grotto. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Bethlehem Map or get our free Google Earth download.
