Crossword Genius

Close to Bethlehem, a relic exciting wonder (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

miracle

'wonder' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'close to bethlehem a relic exciting' is the wordplay.
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close/ending of).
'exciting' is an anagram indicator.
The final letter of 'bethlehem' is 'm'.
'a'+'relic'='arelic'
'arelic' is an anagram of 'iracle'.
'm'+'iracle'='MIRACLE'

(Other definitions for miracle that I've seen before include "Unexplained wonder" , "astonishing feat" , "Divine action" , "Amazing event" , "Divinely-inspired event" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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