On January 6, 2017, the bells of Bethlehem rang out in celebration and Manger Square was filled with Orthodox Christians of various rites from across the West Bank. It is Christmas time. As per tradition, dozens of scout groups, along with the civil authorities and many religious, welcomed the leaders of various denominations, during their solemn entry into the city where the first Christmas, two thousand years ago, revolutionized the fate of the world. RIMA BAQLEH Jerusalem "The City of Peace is the city of the Lord Jesus, and this is a very significant fact in our lives, because it is not only an event, but the most important event in the world." MOUSA QUMSIEH Beit Sahour "We hope this will be a year of peace and security". ASHRAF ROUMI Bethlehem "I have been playing Santa Claus for the past five years to bring joy to the children during the celebrations of the Latins and the Orthodox. And today we are here again, in front of the hotel of the Nativity Square." The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Vicar, Mar Swerios Malki Murad, followed by the Vicar of the Coptic Church Anba Antonius (celebrating his first Christmas after his appointment as Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East) launched the celebration. Theophilus III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City was the last one to be introduced during this morning celebration. TALA HAKOURA Gaza "There is a big difference between the celebrations in Gaza and the ones in Bethlehem. There, we only go to church to pray and then go back home, but here, we see people taking to the streets to celebrate and... the scouts.....there are no scouts in Gaza.” A few kilometers further south, within the Strip, other Orthodox Christians, meanwhile, also celebrated Christmas, with a less colorful and less animated festivity. Bishop Alexius, Metropolitan of the Greek community, presided over the Mass in the Church of St. Porphyrius, located in the Zaytun Quarter of the Old City. KAMEL AYAD Public Relations Manager - Orthodox Church "My New Year message during this feast, the feast of the birth of Our Lord Jesus, is a message of love and peace. I hope this is a feast for young people, a feast that encourages and enables them to live at home, instead of emigrating abroad." According to the Eastern Julian calendar, the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated less than two weeks away from the Catholic one. The Armenians will be the last to celebrate Christmas, on January 19. A few days of difference that, throughout history, have led to disagreements and issues, but that, year after year, give way to the desire for a deeper unity, as it emerged during the traditional greetings at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate . H.B. TEOFILO III Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem "Today, it is imperative to try to do our best to support our Christian community in any possible way, to encourage them to remain here and to comfort them." H.B. TEOFILO III Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem "This is profoundly important not only for the Holy Land and to the holy city of Jerusalem, but also for the entire Middle East." Read More