Palestine News & Information Agency (WAFA)
January 6, 2018 Saturday


Syrian Orthodox procession first to arrive in Bethlehem for Christmas
celebration



BETHLEHEM, January 6, 2018 (WAFA) – Syrian Orthodox Patriarchal Vicar
of the Holy Land and Jordan, Archbishop Mar Swerios Malki Murad, was
the first to arrive in Bethlehem on Saturday marking the beginning of
the Christmas celebration for the orthodox churches in Palestine.

Archbishop Murad’s procession started from the Monastery of Saint
Mark in Jerusalem’s Old City and arrived at Bethlehem’s Manger
Square where it was received by officials, including the governor of
Bethlehem Jibrin Bakri, Minister of Tourism Rola Mayaya, mayor of
Bethlehem Anton Salman as well as other officials.

The Syrian Orthodox procession will be followed by the Coptic Orthodox
Archbishop Anba Antonius, then the Greek Orthodox and finally the
procession of the Ethiopian Orthodox.

The orthodox churches mark Christmas Day on January 7 and the Armenian
Orthodox Church is the last to celebrate Christmas in the Holy Land
with the Christmas Eve procession to Bethlehem on January 18 and
Christmas Day on January 19.

M.K.