This Week in Christian History: Archbishop Murdered, First Manger Scene, YMCA

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

St. Francis of Assisi Creates First Manger Scene — December 24, 1223

A manger scene placed in the Florida Capitol rotunda in Tallahassee by the Florida Prayer Network. The group has put the nativity scene in the rotunda in 2013 and 2014, but in 2015 decided to not do so.
A manger scene placed in the Florida Capitol rotunda in Tallahassee by the Florida Prayer Network. The group has put the nativity scene in the rotunda in 2013 and 2014, but in 2015 decided to not do so. | (Photo: Facebook/Florida Prayer Network

This week marks what is believed to be the first time that a manger scene was created as a decorative piece in celebration of Christmas.

St. Francis of Assisi, the monk known for his love of animals and the "Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace" poem, is credited with creating the first nativity display at a cave near the village of Grecio in modern day Italy.

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"He set up an empty manger (the feeding trough of farm animals which served as Jesus' crib) inside a cave, and even included a live ox and donkey beside the manger just as it was believed to have happened on that first Christmas night," noted the website Catholic Company.

"Through these visual aids he wanted everyone to impress more deeply into their understanding how Christ came into the world in such poverty and simplicity."

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