Thousands of miles away, in the little town of Bethlehem, a UW-Madison professor’s work is helping to keep the walls of a centuries-old church standing.
The Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem was first built in 339 A.D. on what is said to be the location of Jesus Christ’s birthplace. The historic significance of such a long-standing structure and the religious significance of the church make it a major tourist attraction.