Christmas Number 1 — On December 25 Protestants and Roman Catholics celebrated Christmas. The festivities in Manger Square in Bethlehem was broadcast worldwide—and some Protestants and Roman Catholics celebrated in “Shepherds’ Field” east of Bethlehem (now filled with homes and shops of the village Beit Sahur).
Grotto/Cave at the Roman Catholic Site of Shepherds’ Field
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Christmas Number 2 — On January 7, the Greek, Coptic, and Syrian Orthodox and Armenian Churches will celebrate Christmas.
The Grotto of the Nativity
Said to be the very spot where Jesus was born
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A Greek Orthodox Priest Celebrating the Eucharist
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On January 7 the Armenian Orthodox Church will celebrate Christmas.
An Armenian Service in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
Armenians Celebrate Christmas on 7 January
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For additional images of Bethlehem Click Here.
Our friends a “Israel’s History – a Picture a Day” have posted 6 photographic images of Bethlehem at Christmas around 1900 under Turkish Rule: grotto, processions, etc. They are very interesting!
– – – Personal Story Follows – – –
Grotto of the Manger — Only 15 feet from the “star”
Said to be the place where the “manger” was
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In the early 1970’s, when we were living in Israel, Mary and I and John (our two-year old barely–able–to–walk son) were visiting the grotto of the Nativity, Mary and I were looking at a variety of things. When we turned around, looking for our son John, there he was, blowing out the candles that the faithful had placed by this site—sorry about that!
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