Orthodox Armenians celebrate Christmas in BethlehemJanuary 18, 2019 - 17:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Orthodox Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian arrived on Friday, January 18 noon at Manger Square in Bethlehem, marking Palestine’s Armenian Christians’ celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany, WAFA reports. Manougian’s procession left from the Armenian Patriarchate, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, and made its way to Manger Square. Followed by Armenian clergy and the faithful, the procession, stopped at Mar Elias Monastery on the way to Bethlehem, where Manougian was welcomed by the deputy mayor of Bethlehem, the mayors of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. It then proceeded to Bethlehem via an Israeli military-controlled metal gate in the concrete wall that separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Upon reaching Bethlehem, the primate of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem was greeted by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rola Maayaa, Bethlehem Governor Kamel Hmeid, Mayor Anton Salman and other officials. The Patriarch was also greeted upon his arrival by notables of the Armenian community before making a solemn entry into the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity and St. Catherine’s Church. Palestinian officials are expected to attend the Christmas service and midnight mass. Orthodox Armenian Christians in Palestine celebrate Christmas nearly two weeks after the majority of the Greek Orthodox Church and other Eastern Orthodox denominations, who marked the feast on January 7, and more than three weeks after the Roman Catholic Christians, who celebrated it on December 25. The differences in dates of Christmas feast are due to the use of different calendars. Roman Catholic Christians and other western denominations mark the feast using the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christians and most Armenian denominations celebrate the feast using the Julian calendar, while the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem marks Christmas and Epiphany together on January 19. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |