Armenians celebrate Christmas in West Bank town of Bethlehem

EuroNews, EU
Jan 18 2015

Armenians celebrate Christmas in West Bank town of Bethlehem

18/01 16:45 CET

Christmas has been and gone for many, but not for members of the
Armenian community in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

The community uses a different calendar.

The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem led ceremonies in the Church of
the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.

Christmas is celebrated three times in Bethlehem every year.

Many Christians mark the date on December 25, based on the Gregorian
calendar, while several Orthodox Christians commemorate the event to
recognise the birth of Jesus on January 7.

Some Armenian churches celebrate on January 19, making them the last
of the Eastern Churches to mark the event.

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