Editing Church of the Nativity (section)

===Crusader period (1099-1187)===
[[File:Konrad von Grünenberg - Beschreibung der Reise von Konstanz nach Jerusalem - Blatt 47r - 099.jpg|thumb|upright|The basilica and grounds as they were depicted in a work published in 1487]]

The Church of the Nativity was used as the primary coronation church for [[Crusades|Crusader]] kings, from the [[Baldwin I of Jerusalem|second ruler]] of the [[Catholic|Latin]] [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] in 1100 and until 1131.<ref name=Hazzard>{{cite book |last=Hazzard |first=Harry W. |title=A History of the Crusades |volume=IV |year=1977}}{{full citation needed|date=December 2016}}</ref> In an earlier phase starting from {{Circa|1130}}, the Crusaders promoted the redecoration of the building in the medium of wall painting: images of saints were displayed in the central and southern colonnades of the nave, largely on the initiative of private donors, as is shown by the frequent use of dedicatory inscriptions and portraits. Remnants of a cycle of narrative scenes are preserved in the north-western pillar of the choir and the south transepts, as well as in the chapel located below the bell tower.<ref>Bacci, Michele (2017), [https://www.viella.it/libro/9788867288199 ''The Mystic Cave. A History of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704124417/https://www.viella.it/libro/9788867288199 |date=4 July 2022 }}, Rome-Brno, 2017, pp. 124-136</ref>
The Crusaders undertook extensive decoration and restoration on the basilica and grounds,<ref name=Hazzard/> a process that continued until 1169,<ref name=Shomali/> from 1165 to 1169 even through a sort of "joint venture" between the Latin Bishop of Bethlehem, Raoul, the Latin King [[Amalric I of Jerusalem]] and the Byzantine emperor [[Manuel I Komnenos]].<ref name=Restoration>Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, [http://en.lpj.org/2016/07/21/the-basilica-of-nativity-restoration-works-continue-to-reveal-hidden-jewels/ ''The Basilica of Nativity: Restoration works continue to reveal hidden jewels''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227062238/http://en.lpj.org/2016/07/21/the-basilica-of-nativity-restoration-works-continue-to-reveal-hidden-jewels/ |date=27 December 2019 }}, posted 2016-06-21, accessed 8 April 2018</ref> As detailed in the bilingual Greek and Latin inscription in the altar space, the mosaic decoration was made by a teamwork headed by a painter named Ephraim. Another bilingual, Latin and Syriac, inscription located in the lower half of a mosaic panel displaying an angel in the northern wall of the nave bears witness to the work of a painter named Basil, who was probably a local Syrian Melkite. The two artists collaborated within the same workshop.<ref>Bacci, Michele (2017), [https://www.viella.it/libro/9788867288199 ''The Mystic Cave. A History of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704124417/https://www.viella.it/libro/9788867288199 |date=4 July 2022 }}, Rome-Brno, Viella, pp. 144-151</ref>