HIS BEATITUDE LIGHTS CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

On Friday the 6^th/19^th of December 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, lit the Christmas tree in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The tall, decorated tree is fixed on a terrace within the New Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, a manger at its basis.

Leaders of Churches attended the event, together with a crowd of Christians of various denominations, rejoicing for the birth of Christ in anticipation for more peaceful conditions in the New Year – protesting at the same time for the prosecutions of Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The Heads of Churches passed through the New Gate to arrive at the Notre Dame hotel. There, in the events hall, a Christmas celebration was held, organized by the Palestinian Bible Society. Guests at the event were addressed by the Patriarch in Arabic, after which the Palestinian Ambassador, Mr Issah Kassiye, read the message of President Mahmoud Abbas-Abu Mazen, wishing health, peace, the peace of Jesus Christ, freedom and safety for the residents of the Old City.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/l1cWxUQF3Eg