MANILA, Dec. 18, 2014—Want to see different kinds of “belen” this Christmas season? Dozens of them are currently on display at the 3rd floor of the Museo ng Arkidiyosesis ng Maynila in 121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila.
Dozens of belens are currently on display at the 3rd floor of the Museo ng Arkidiyosesis ng Maynila in 121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila. (Photo: James Benedict Malabanan)
Dubbed “Halina sa Sabsaban,” the exhibit forms part of the private collection of Fr. Genaro O. Diwa of the Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM)’s Commission on Liturgy, who is avidly fond of them.
Admission is free.
The featured belens (Christmas crèche) can be viewed from Dec. 1, 2014 until Jan. 12, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.
Belen, which comes from the Spanish word for “Betlehem”, is a sacred diorama depicting the Nativity scene.
According to tradition, the first Belen was made in 1223 by no less than St. Francis of Assisi himself, who, following his visit to Jesus’ supposed birthplace in the Holy Land, saw in the Nativity scene a great way of fostering the worship of Christ. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCPNews)
