Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Assyrian and Ethiopian Christians gathered in Bethlehem on Thursday to welcome their Jerusalem patriarchs, celebrating the birth of Christ on the Eastern Calendar.
In staggered receptions, Palestinian scouts marched in the heads of each church, with the Ethiopian cleric danced in by a delegation of faithful from the Jerusalem parish.
From 9 a.m. to just after 3 p.m. church officials in robes, ornamented in crosses and gold-threaded fabrics, received Mar Serios Mellki with the Assyrian Church, Anba Abraham with the Coptic Church, Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church and Kaustus Mariam of the Ethiopian denominations, in events witnessed by scores in Bethlehem's Manger Square, and broadcast live on satellite by Ma'an partner Mix TV.
Coptic, Assyrian and Greek Orthodox officials entered the Nativity Church ahead of evening worship ceremonies, while Ethiopian officials were received at the Ethiopian Church on Grotto street to prepare for the midnight mass.
Speaking to Ma'an from Manger Square, Assyrian cleric Mar Serios Mellki said he hoped peace would prevail in all of the Holy Land, and called on the faithful around the world to look carefully at Bethlehem, a city suffering under the Israeli occupation. He said that in the year to come, he wished brotherhood would prevail among all nations.
The church delegations were met by senior officials from Bethlehem and Ramallah, including Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarsah, Governor, Abed Al-Fttah Hamayel, general director of the police department Khaled At-Tamimi, president’s advisor to Christian international and local affairs Zeyad Al-Bandak and minister of tourism and antiquities Khoulud Deibes.