THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY AT BETHLEHEM.
The Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem. By W. Harvey and Others. Edited by R. Weir Schultz. (B. T. Batsford. 30s. net.) —Mr. Harvey is responsible for the particular description of the Church and for the illustrations generally. Mr. W. R. Lethaby contributes an historical and descriptive account, Mr. 0. M. Dalton deals with the Mosaics, Mr. H. A. A. Cruso gives in chronological order a summary of the narratives of pilgrims and other visitors, and Mr. A. C. Headlam describes the Cave. Altogether we have here a very painstaking account by the expert of one of the most interesting buildings in the world. The date of the building seems to be somewhat doubtful. Is it to be attributed to Constantine or to Justinian ? Mr. Lethaby is in- clined to the earlier date. That Constantine did build a church is beyond doubt. The " Bordeaux Pilgrim," in 333, says, speak- ing of Bethlehem, " ibi basilica facts est, iussu. Constantini," and Eusebius a few years later gives a detailed account of the site, the dedication by the Emperor and his mother. To the same century belong Paula and Socrates, while Sozomen is but a few years later. The testimony of these visitors points unanimously to Constantine and Helena, with the one exception of Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople, early in the tenth century, who is the authority for Justinian Of course it is quite another question how much of the existing structure can be attributed to the founder. Mosaics were part of the original design ; how far the fragments which remain belong to that or show subsequent additions is a difficult question, all the more so because exact reproduction is not possible. The tradition which identifies the Cave with the " stable " of the gospel narrative is very ancient : it is mentioned by Justin Martyr in A.D. 155 (circa), and is not improbable.
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