Wooden manger relic from Rome on pre-Christmas display in Jerusalem

A fragment of a wooden relic reputed to be from Jesus's manger was put on display in Jerusalem on Friday, ahead of its transfer to Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem for the official launch of the Christmas season.

A small fragment of the wooden manger, which had been kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, was handed over earlier this week to the custodian of the Bethlehem church.

It arrived in Jerusalem for a brief public display and will later be taken to Bethlehem. There, it is expected to be placed inside Saint Catherine's Church, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, in time for the lighting of the Christmas tree in Bethlehem on Saturday.

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