WEST BANK: Armenian Orthodox celebrate Christmas while Jordanian and Palestinian Christians take a dip in the River Jordan.

Record ID: 560560

  • Title: WEST BANK: Armenian Orthodox celebrate Christmas while Jordanian and Palestinian Christians take a dip in the River Jordan.
  • Date: 22nd January 2007
  • Summary: (BN16) JORDAN VALLEY, WEST BANK (JANUARY 18, 2007) (REUTERS) CROWD GATHERED NEAR JORDAN RIVER NEAR ARCH OF PALMS SIGN WARNING NOT TO ENTER WATER MEN SWIMMING IN WATER MAN PERFORMING SIGN OF THE CROSS WHILE IN WATER FLAG OF JORDAN FLYING ON EAST BANK OF RIVER AS SEEN FROM WEST BANK VARIOUS OF WOMAN WAVING TO PEOPLE ON JORDANIAN SIDE MEN SWIMMING IN RIVER AND CROWD ON WEST BANK
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACQIYNEJ5HEP97IHTUXKST9K85
  • Story Text: The Armenian Orthodox church celebrates Christmas Eve at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Elsewhere on the West Bank, Christians gathered on both sides of the Jordan River to hold ceremonies and swim in the traditional baptismal site. The Armenian Orthodox Church celebrated Christmas Eve in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity on Thursday (January 18).
    In the evening Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited the church and greeted Armenian Orthodox clergy.
    Upon leaving the church, Abbas confirmed that he would travel to Syria on Saturday.
    "Saturday we are going to Damascus, God willing," Abbas said. It was reported Thursday that Abbas planned with meet with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal during his trip to Syria.
    Earlier Thursday, the Armenian Patriarch arrived this morning in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem in preparation for Christmas mass due to take place at midnight.
    The Patriarch did not march with the rest of the clergy men as he traditionally does however his deputy took his place and walked alongside Bethlehem's Mayor.
    In the evening, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is arrived in the West Bank town to take part in Christmas celebrations, a tradition started by the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
    Also Thursday, at the baptismal site of the river Jordan, Palestinian and Jordanian christians along with pilgrims from around the world met on both sides of the river Jordan where they held a joint prayer and took a dip in the river.
    The river Jordan is the place were John the Baptist Baptised Jesus, according to tradition.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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