Bethlehem celebrated the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree on a packed Manger Square on Dec. 6, following a two--year hiatus, the Christian Daily website reports today (Dec. 8, 2025).
The ceremony -- attended by church leaders, Palestinian officials, international diplomats, and local families -- marked Bethlehem's first public Christmas gathering since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. City leaders framed the lighting as both a spiritual milestone and a communal act of resilience, declaring that he "light of peace" continues to shine from the birthplace of Christ despite the hardship in the region.
Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati welcomed the large turnout, noting that it reflected Bethlehem's global spiritual significance.Representing the Palestinian president, Dr. Ramzi Khoury, Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, affirmed that Christmas carries a message of hope born in a simple manger more than 2,000 years ago -- one that changed the face of the world. He emphasized that the birth of Christ is not merely a historical moment but an ongoing birth of hope for true peace and darkness, a reminder that light finds its way no matter how deep the hardship.
No comments:
Post a Comment