WEST BANK: Greek Orthodox celebrate Christmas and pray for Israeli PM Sharon's health

Record ID: 566359

  • Title: WEST BANK: Greek Orthodox celebrate Christmas and pray for Israeli PM Sharon's health
  • Date: 7th January 2006
  • Summary: SCU ORTHODOX ARCHMANDRITE ATTALAH HANNA GREETING WORSHIPPERS
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA3L9LG75V9I7LB6ODPHUWUR5S6
  • Story Text: Scores of Greek Orthodox Christians gathered at the
    West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas
    on Friday night (January 6).
    The city of Bethlehem is the birth place of Jesus
    according to tradition and a special midnight mass takes
    place twice a year at Bethlehem's Church of Nativity, one
    time for the Latin church and another for the eastern
    Orthodox Churches.
    The mood was lively at the Manger Square of Church of
    Nativity as many pilgrims gathered along with local
    Palestinian Christians to celebrate.
    "What we want as Palestinians on Christmas and not only
    on Christmas, Muslims and Christians, is to have just
    peace," said Archmandrite Attalah Hanna as he welcomed
    worshipers outside of the Church.
    Christmas season comes at a time of uncertainty for the
    Palestinians affected by armed chaos in Gaza and parts of
    the West Bank as well as banns on political activity,
    hindering the election campaign process, in Arab east
    Jerusalem.
    Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's illness has added to the
    uncertainty as many don't know what to expect and feel that
    peace making might be receiving a blow.
    "Why not pray for Sharon's health? The men of peace
    always pray for peace and for the health of those who want
    peace world wide," said Fradi Marillo, Venezuela's Ambassador to Israel.
    "We will pray for him with all our hearts," a pilgrim
    from Romania said when asked about Sharon.
    Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas and various
    Palestinian Ministers along with the governor and Mayor of
    Bethlehem all attended the midnight mass, a tradition
    started by the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.
    Sharon has been long reviled in the Arab world but
    increasingly seen by the West as having opened up new
    prospects for peace. He suffered his stroke at his Negev
    Desert ranch at a crucial juncture in Israeli politics, as
    he was fighting for re-election on a promise to end
    conflict with the Palestinians.
    Even before Sharon fell ill, hopes for peacemaking were
    dwindling over a possible delay to Jan. 25 Palestinian
    elections and growing unrest in Gaza and the West Bank.
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