Shepherds in the Field Were the First to be Told the Glad Tidings

Christians have wanted to celebrate the annunciation to the shepherds for millennia at the site of the event.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:8-14.

Most tours will take you to the Catholic shepherds cave and chapel pictured below.

Archeological evidence indicates that Byzantine monks lived at this site from about (400 to 614 AD).

In fact, shepherds until modern times would house their herds at night in caves (when caves where available) and would themselves sleep in the cave door to keep guard. It was the easiest way to guard a flock without having to stay awake all night.

The early Christian historian Eusebius (265 to 340 AD) indicated the site of the angelic annunciation was about 400 yards (meters) south of the Catholic Shepherds Field at a site now occupied by a Greek Orthodox Church of the Shepherds. This new church is built over the ruins of a church that is believed to have been built by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.

The site of the angelic annunciation to the shepherds could have been anywhere in a few miles circumference of Bethlehem. Shepherds were near the bottom of the social structure and so their report was largely ignored. Only they took note of where they were. We will never know. Nevertheless, this is as good as any spot to remember this glorious event.