Bethlehem, Palestine
Coordinates: 31.703222, 35.209222
The Chapel of the Milk Grotto is a Catholic chapel in Bethlehem in the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories, erected in 1872.
It is believed that in this cave Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها nursed Hz. Isa عليه اسلام on their way to Egypt excaping the persecution of Herod.
Significance
Christian tradition says is the place where the Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها and Hz. Isa عليه اسلام found refuge during the Massacre of the Innocents, before they could flee to Egypt.
Massacre of the Innocents is the incident described in bible in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem.
The name of the grotto is derived from the story that a “drop of milk” of the Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها fell on the floor of the cave, while she was nursing Hz. Isa عليه اسلام and changed its colour to white.
The space, which contains three different caves, is visited by some in hope of healing infertile couples, the shrine allegedly being a place where prayers for children are miraculously answered.
It is also believed that the innocent babies killed by Herod on the night of Jesus’ birth were buried here.
To this day, local women, both Muslim and Christian, still go to the Grotto to pray for Bibi Maryam’s رضي الله عنها intercession and pray for the well being of their childrens.
This site is one of the many sites in Palestine that are sacred for both religion.
Milk Powder
The site is sacred and frequented visited by new mothers and women who are trying to conceive.
By mixing the soft white chalk with their food, and praying to Our Lady of the Milk, they believe it will increase the quantity of their milk or enable them to become pregnant.
Great amount of framed letters and baby pictures are sent from around the world to the Milk Grotto to testify to the effectiveness of the milk powder that is available here.
Know This
The Milk Grotto is approximately 5 minutes walk from the Church of the Nativity and access is free.
