- Title: WEST BANK: Armenian Patriarch arrives in Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations
- Date: 18th January 2014
- Summary: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (JANUARY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) MARCHING BAND PLAYING MUSIC TO CELEBRATE ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS BELLS RINGING VARIOUS OF MARCHING BAND WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM TURKEY, TALEEN, SAYING: "It's first time that I am here, it's really exciting and I am very happy to be here." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR FROM JERUSALEM, SHOSHAN SHGHANIAN, SAYING: "What is special is that Jesus was born here. And all people from around the world want to celebrate the event here." ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM, NOURHAN MANOUGIAN, ARRIVING AT MANGER SQUARE CLERGYMEN WALKING TOWARD CHURCH OF NATIVITY VARIOUS OF PATRIARCH MANOUGIAN ENTERING CHURCH OF NATIVITY CROWD GATHERED AT MANGER SQUARE
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVADT3Q6HHOIC1UGJSN8M8OS31ZM
- Story Text: Marching bands made their way through the centre of the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Saturday (January 18) as church bells rang ahead of the arrival of Armenian Patriarch Nourhan Mangounian.
The patriarch was attending the Church of Nativity's Manger Square to offer his blessing ahead of Armenian Christmas Eve midnight mass.
Christian faithful lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their religious leader as he walked by.
Turkish tourist Taleen said it was the first time she had been to Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
"It's really exciting and I am very happy to be here," she said.
Shoshan Shghanian from Jerusalem said being in Bethlehem made the occasion more poignant.
"What is special is that Jesus was born here. And all people from around the world want to celebrate the event here," she said.
Christmas in Bethlehem is celebrated three times each year.
Many Christians mark the date on December 25, based on the Gregorian calendar, while several Orthodox Christians commemorate the event to recognise the birth of Jesus on January 7.
Some Armenian churches celebrate on January 19, making them the last of the Eastern Churches to mark the event. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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