In Bethlehem, below the Church of the Nativity, it is possible to visit the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, whose Feast we celebrate on December 28th.
This icon at the entrance to the chapel shows Herod giving the order to slaughter the children. Notice Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt and Elizabeth taking John into the hills to hide.
The chapel is filled with hundreds of tiny skulls and bones. It is also said to contain relics of the Christians martyred by the Persians in the 7th century.
The chapel also has this beautiful icon of Christ welcoming the children into Heaven.
The chapel is not often open, so if you’ve been to the church of the Nativity and didn’t see this, don’t feel too bad. But you should travel with me next time, and I’ll see what I can do.