Aviram Oshri, an archaeologist from the Israel Antiquities Authority, believes Jesus was actually born in a small village called Bethlehem of Galilee, over 60 miles (100km) from Bethlehem of Judea.

Aviram Oshri, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, believes that Jesus was actually born in a small village called Bethlehem of Galilee, over 100 kilometers from Bethlehem of Judea.

Matthew also says that after Herod dies from an illness, Joseph, Mary and Jesus do not return to Bethlehem. Instead, they travel north to Nazareth in Galilee, which is modern-day Nazareth in Israel.

There are about 200,000 Palestinian Christians who live in and around Bethlehem, the Galilee region and Gaza. Usually crowds pack into Manger Square for celebrations but this year the mood is subdued.

But one rogue Israeli archaeologist has said it is far more likely the Christian savior was born in Bethlehem of Galilee, more than 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Jerusalem.

But when I arrived at the holiest sites where Jesus was born, preached, died – from Bethlehem and Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem — the only Christian I found was myself.

"Joseph (and Mary) also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David." — Luke 2.4 NRSVUE Ah!

He said it was his fourth attempt at organizing a nine-day, 10-night pilgrimage to locations such as the Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Beatitudes ...

It will also combine the sound of the Shreveport choirs Galilee Missionary Baptist Church ... “The first act will be in Bethlehem, so you will hear a lot of Christmas carols.