- Title: Holy Fire illuminates Bethlehem in shadow of war in Gaza
- Date: 4th May 2024
- Summary: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (MAY 4, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF METROPOLITAN VINDICTUS, PATRIARCHAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN BETHLEHEM, CARRYING FIRE THAT ARRIVED FROM JERUSALEM AND WALKING TOWARDS CHURCH OF NATIVITY YOUNG MEN CHANTING DURING HOLY FIRE CEREMONY VINDICTUS CARRYING A LANTERN OF FIRE VARIOUS OF VINDICTUS INSIDE CHURCH OF NATIVITY WORSHIPPERS INSIDE CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WORSHIPPER, MARIANA BANDAK, SAYING: "Today on Holy Fire we couldn't go to Jerusalem because of what is happening in Gaza, so we in Bethlehem decided to do small celebrations for the Holy Fire Saturday . We want to say Christ is risen." VARIOUS OF VINDICTUS LIGHTING CANDLES INSIDE CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GREEK ORTHODOX PRIEST AT THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, FATHER ISSA THALJIEH, SAYING: "The celebrations, which include marching bands, theatre and other ceremonies, do not exist because of the bad situation in Palestine and due to the war that Palestinians are living through." MAN CARRYING CANDLE AND CHANTING (Arabic): "CHRIST IS RISEN" WOMAN LIGHTING A CANDLE WOMAN CARRYING A LIT CANDLE WORSHIPPERS INSIDE CHURCH WOMAN TAKING PICTURES WOMAN CARRYING CROSS AND CANDLE WORSHIPPERS PRAYING INSIDE CHURCH VARIOUS OF CROSS INSIDE CHURCH VARIOUS OF CHRISTIANS KISSING GROTTO OF THE NATIVITY , A STAR WHERE IT IS BELIEVED JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN BELLS RINGING EXTERIOR OF CHURCH OF NATIVITY WORSHIPPERS GATHERING TO MARK HOLY FIRE
- Embargoed: 18th May 2024 15:35
- Keywords: Bethlehem Christians Church of Nativity Greek Orthodox Holy Fire Palestinians
- Location: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK
- City: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Occupied Territory
- Topics: Middle East,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001004704052024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Scores of Christian worshippers marked the arrival of the 'Holy Fire' from Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday (May 4).
Men, women and children gathered outside the Church of Nativity in town, where the fire arrived. They lit their own candles to pass among the faithful, with the absence of marching bands, in the shadow of the war in Gaza.
The millennium-old celebration, symbolizing Jesus's resurrection, usually draws thousands of worshippers to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians believe Jesus was buried.
As the Israel-Gaza war continues, a smaller than usual crowd was seen greeting the Patriarch at Manger Square outside the church, believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in contrast to what would normally be a frenetic scene.
Palestinian Christians said that they were not granted permits to enter and mark the day at the Holy Sepluchre.
The Holy Sepulchre lies at the heart of the Old City's Christian Quarter in East Jerusalem.
(Production: Yosri Aljamal, Roleen Tafakji) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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