Quotation and Glorification. Bethlehem’s Conciliar Texts in Local Context

A re-evaluation of the Church of the Nativity’s mosaics challenges conventional views, revealing that local Arabic-speaking mosaicists played an active role in their design. Contrary to the typical interpretation as mere 'Crusader' art reflecting Mediterranean exchange, this study demonstrates that the conciliar representations in the nave were deeply rooted in a Palestinian epigraphic tradition. The Greek texts on the walls functioned as signs of identity and history for a multilingual audience, suggesting a more complex local context than previously understood.

(Ed.). (2026). Quotation and Glorification. Bethlehem’s Conciliar Texts in Local Context. Writing in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, 41–59. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.celama-eb.5.151590