Armenian Christmas in Bethlehem

  Despite the dire weather condition, on Friday, January 18, 2008, (due to the old Christian calendar) more than 70 members of the Scout Troop of Homenetmen Jerusalem marched from the Armenian Convent of Jerusalem to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.

  At around 11:30 am, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Torkom Arch. Manougian, accompanied with the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude Mesrob Arch. Mutafian and the members of the St. James brotherhood, were welcomed at the Nativity Square by the governor, mayor, head of police and the armed forces of the city of Bethlehem, Palestinian government representatives, the scouts troops of Homenetmen and Hoyechmen as wella s other local scout troops and many pilgrims from around the country, Turkey and Armenia.

  Prior to His Beatitude's arrival, the Homenetmen brass and drum groups, have made an impressive performance by marching from the entrance of the city to its main square playing several Armenian and foreign songs receiving the warm appreciation of the gathered crowd.

  At midnight of the same day with the presence of His Beatitude Torkom Arch. Manugian, Arch. Mutafian held a Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Nativity, Christ's birthplace. Present at the Mass was the Palestinian Prime Minister and other dignitaries. His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President personally congratulated the Armenian community by being present at a reception held at the Armenian Convent of Bethlehem hours before the Holy Mass.

  It is worth mentioning that the Holy Mass was aired live on Armenia's first channel for the first time in history in a fundraising project organized by the Shushi Fund in its efforts to rebuild Shushi as a cultural centre of the Armenian nation.

 Pictures by yeghp. Vahe Yacoubian and yegh. Antranig Demirdjian