WEST BANK: Jerusalem's Greek Patriarch arrives in Bethlehem to lead Orthodox Christmas mass

Record ID: 564840

  • Title: WEST BANK: Jerusalem's Greek Patriarch arrives in Bethlehem to lead Orthodox Christmas mass
  • Date: 6th January 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HELENAH NASSAR, VISITOR FROM GOLAN HEIGHTS, SAYING: "This is first time that we experience this atmosphere, it is very nice and well arranged. We feel in a real Christian atmosphere during Christmas, very nice." CHRISTMAS TREE NEXT TO NATIVITY CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MARGO BASOUS, RESIDENT OF BETHLEHEM, SAYING: "I just arrived here but there is not a lot of people last year there was much more. I hope it will be a good and lovely year and the most important is the peace." CHILD WEARING SANTA CLOTHS CEREMONY AT MANGER SQUARE VARIOUS OF GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM, THEOPHILOS III, ARRIVING TO MANGER SQUARE AS PART OF CHRISTMAS CEREMONY VARIOUS OF GREEK PATRIARCH BEING GREETED IN MANGER SQUARE GREEK PATRIARCH ENTERING NATIVITY CHURCH
  • Embargoed: 21st January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACK4IW0DR96PNCWIXOH4TIZFKY
  • Story Text: Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, arrived in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday (January 6), the eve of the Orthodox Christmas, to lead midnight mass at the Nativity Church.
    The Patriarch was greeted by marching bands at Manger Square.
    Residents and visitors enjoyed the Christmas festive atmosphere.
    "This is first time that we experience this atmosphere, it is very nice and well arranged. We feel in a real Christian atmosphere during Christmas, very nice," said Helenah Nassar, visitor from Golan Heights.
    New resident of Bethlehem Margo Basous hopes that the new year and Christmas bring peace to region.
    "I just arrived here but there is not a lot of people last year there was much more. I hope it will be a good and lovely year and the most important is the peace," Basous said.
    Christian tradition has the Nativity Church as the birthplace of Jesus and Christmas is celebrated by most denominations at the Bethlehem church.
    The patriarch will lead the midnight mass at the Church of Nativity on Monday night.
    The Eastern churches include the ancient Assyrian Church, the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and the Coptic Church. Leaders from the various churches arrive every year at the church to kick off their Christmas Eve celebrations.
    The Church of the Nativity is shared by the Eastern denominations and the Catholic Church, which celebrates Christmas Eve on December 24th.
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