bethlehem - NewBostonPost

Faith

Does it matter if there was really a Star of Bethlehem?

The celebration of Christmas is marked by many symbols, among them the nativity scenes that dot the lawns of churches and homes and the twinkling lights that represent the star said to have illuminated the place of Jesus' birth.

Faith

Armenians celebrate Christmas in the Holy Land

Scouts with their colorful uniforms gather. More than 20 Armenian bishops and priests stand in Manger Square in Bethlehem to greet the Armenian Patriarch, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian. With the sounds of trumpets, bagpipes, and music, the voices of young choir singers and shouts of joy, the Armenian Christmas

Israel

Palestinian Authority limits Christmas celebrations in West Bank

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (RNS) — The Palestinian Authority has asked municipalities to tone down their public Christmas celebrations this year amid escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis. Hana Amireh, who heads a government committee on churches in the West Bank, confirmed the Palestinian Authority is requesting "a certain decrease"