An estimated fifty to seventy thousand pilgrims are in the Holy Land for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, many of them were gathered at Manger Square in Bethlehem, where they were fascinated by the high level of activity abounding in the city of the Nativity. They were there from the early morning until they discovered - if they didn’t know before - that people were waiting for the solemn entry of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Some of them stayed at the square a little longer, while others rushed to the Grotto, which was brimming with people. Most of them will not spend Christmas Eve at the basilica, which many do not consider to be an appropriate location, but somewhere else that is considered by some to be more intimate - but at least they will have had the opportunity to mediate in silence in Bethlehem on Christmas Day.
At 1:30 p.m., the Patriarch had not yet arrived from Jerusalem, so he was going to be late, but the Franciscans and seminarians of the Patriarchate continued to wait patiently and joyfully on a promenade bathed in sunlight. At one point, a procession of cars arrived before the Patriarch’s vehicle, and parishioners from Jerusalem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala began spilling out of them. The crowd became larger; there were many Muslims there who also wanted to see the Patriarch up close. When he finally got out of his car, he was greeted by the parish priest, Br. Samuel Fahim ofm, as well as the mayor of the city and civilian and military authorities. There were folkloric presentations followed by prayer. The guardian of the Franciscan convent, Br. Jerzy Kraj, greeted the Patriarch in front of the Door of Humility, where His Beatitude blessed the crowd before entering the basilica and saluting the Orthodox and Amenian superiors. He went from the nave towards the Cloister of St. Jerome and into the Church of St. Catherine to the sound of the "Te Deum." He gave a solemn blessing before singing the First Vespers of Christmas, which were followed by a procession to the Grotto.
It’s Christmastime in Bethlehem, and everywhere else in the Holy Land. In Nazareth, there was large, lively parade of young people from Christmas movements. In Jerusalem, scouts paraded around the Christian Quarter of the Old City before going to Bethlehem. Local Christians everywhere in the Holy Land are celebrating Christmas with decorations, parades, and various exciting activities.
In just a few hours, bells will be ringing all over the Holy Land and all over the world. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Mab
At 1:30 p.m., the Patriarch had not yet arrived from Jerusalem, so he was going to be late, but the Franciscans and seminarians of the Patriarchate continued to wait patiently and joyfully on a promenade bathed in sunlight. At one point, a procession of cars arrived before the Patriarch’s vehicle, and parishioners from Jerusalem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala began spilling out of them. The crowd became larger; there were many Muslims there who also wanted to see the Patriarch up close. When he finally got out of his car, he was greeted by the parish priest, Br. Samuel Fahim ofm, as well as the mayor of the city and civilian and military authorities. There were folkloric presentations followed by prayer. The guardian of the Franciscan convent, Br. Jerzy Kraj, greeted the Patriarch in front of the Door of Humility, where His Beatitude blessed the crowd before entering the basilica and saluting the Orthodox and Amenian superiors. He went from the nave towards the Cloister of St. Jerome and into the Church of St. Catherine to the sound of the "Te Deum." He gave a solemn blessing before singing the First Vespers of Christmas, which were followed by a procession to the Grotto.
It’s Christmastime in Bethlehem, and everywhere else in the Holy Land. In Nazareth, there was large, lively parade of young people from Christmas movements. In Jerusalem, scouts paraded around the Christian Quarter of the Old City before going to Bethlehem. Local Christians everywhere in the Holy Land are celebrating Christmas with decorations, parades, and various exciting activities.
In just a few hours, bells will be ringing all over the Holy Land and all over the world. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Mab