Just a few paces to the left of the main road that runs from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, Israeli archaeologists believe they have found the rock where the Virgin Mary is said to have rested during her journey between the two cities, on her way to give birth to Jesus. According to Christian belief, the pregnant Virgin Mary rested on the stone while being led on a donkey from Jerusalem by her husband Joseph to escape persecution by King Herod.
The limestone rock protrudes slightly from the mosaic floor of a large, fifth century Byzantine church, which was uncovered during exploratory work prior to the widening of the Jerusalem-Bethlehem highway.
The Greek Orthodox Church, which owns the land, is pledging to spend tens of thousands of dollars to develop the site into a major attraction, and hopes to have it open to the public to coincide with an anticipated rush of Christian tourists in the year 2000.
The newly-unveiled site lies about 50 metres from the rough clearing where Israeli tractors are parked at the end of each day's construction work at nearby Har Homa, the major Jewish neighbourhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem that continues to be a focus of controversy between Israel and the Palestinians, both of whom claim the land as their own.
Israeli archaeologists said yesterday that the excavation work had nothing to do with the Har Homa development, but it seems likely that the road widening project is designed to serve the future residents of Har Homa.
Ms Rina Avner, the archaeologist in charge of the dig, said that the church now being uncovered is the largest of three similar octagonal churches in the area, and that its mosaic flooring, which features floral and abstract geometric designs, is more elaborate than in previous finds from the same era.
Various written sources indicate that Christians began making pilgrimages to a rock on the Jerusalem-Bethlehem road as long as 1,700 years ago, according to Jerusalem archaeologist, Mr Gideon Avni, and that the Byzantine Church of the Kathisma - the "seat" - was built around it.
Israel's Antiquities Authority dug trenches prior to the widening of the Jerusalem-Bethlehem road, and came upon the structure. Recently, Ms Avner realised that "Mary's rock" was probably located in the centre of the floor and soon identified the rock.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Deodorus I, yesterday hailed the find as "a great discovery, with historical, religious and ethnic significance".
David Horovitz is managing editor of the Jerusalem Post