Mysterious new icon discovered in Church of the Nativity - but authorities won't say what it depicts

Mysterious icon may not be revealed until 2017.

A mysterious icon has been discovered in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. The icon is said to be centuries old and "of great religious and historical value." Few details about the discovery have been released.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - A mysterious icon has been discovered at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. Few details have been given, so it is unclear who is depicted in the icon, but it is said the icon is of "great historical and religious value."

The icon was discovered by surprise after repairs and renovations removed layers of dust and plaster from an interior wall. The work has restored incredible mosaics dating back to the crusades.

The newly discovered icon is almost certainly a forgotten mosaic. According to workers, who remain tight-lipped about what the mosaic depicts, it is made of brass, silver, shells and stones.
Workers have not said how old the icon is or provided any other details, leaving us with a mystery.

For the past two years, workers have labored to restore the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Damaged by water as well as centuries of use, the church remains a top destination for visitors. The church was constructed in the 4th century on the site of a grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus.

The Palestinian Authority administers the territory where the church is situated and Palestinian President Abbas is fully supporting the project. The church itself is shared by the Roman Catholic, Armenian, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The three churches run the church according to a sharing agreement hashed out in the 19th century.

The church should be reopened sometime in 2017, and visitors will then be able to see the restored mosaics and the mysterious new icon.

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