The Church of the Nativity commemorates the birthplace of Jesus. St. Helena is believed to have built Church of the Nativity, there are others who believe that it was the Emperor Constantine who ordered the construction of monumental churches to honor the three principal events of Jesus life. The construction began in 326 AD, and with the aid of the locals' tradition who believed that the cave in which Jesus was born was at the end of the village, the architects were able to construct the shape of the cave according to architectural and devotional requirements.The present church was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian. In 529, the Samaritans revolted, and the Church was badly damaged.The Patriarch of Jerusalem sent St. Sabas to Justinian for help, and the architect sent by the Emperor demolished the church and built the current one.