Approximately 3,000 Christian Palestinians live in Gaza, with many families forced to the coastal enclave in 1948 from Al Majdal and other nearby towns. Few of those who now have family in the West Bank are able to visit this holiday season, where Christmas celebrations are substantially larger and more festive. Nevertheless, Palestinian Christians in Gaza have been gearing up for the celebration, determined to enjoy Christmas.
A sweet vendor fries local traditional sweets amid Christmas decorations in the southern town of Khan Younis. (All Photos: Ruqaya Izzidien)
A Christian scout group meets at Gaza’s Greek Orthodox Church and breaks out into an impromptu dabka dance.
Following the Sunday mass, Orthodox Christians eat a sweetened boiled wheat dessert to commemorate 100 days after the passing of a church member.
The original construction of the Orthodox Church was built in the 6thCentury, in what is now Gaza’s Old City. The church and neighbouring Katb al Welaya Mosque share a wall, and the church bells and mosque minaret stand adjacent.
Biblical images adorn the interior of the Greek Orthodox Church, which celebrates Christmas on January 7.
Children gather in the Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius for Sunday school, which is held on Friday, which is when the weekend falls in many Middle Eastern countries.
This year Israel has given permits to 500 Palestinian Christians in Gaza to visit the West Bank for Christmas. As permission is automatically denied to anyone over 35 or under 16,
the few who are granted permission often choose to say in Gaza,
rather than leave their family behind at Christmas.
A beautiful poem for all who care
“The Night, in which Love came down to Earth.
The Night, in which the Light shone, the Light that shines eternally glew in time –
– To illuminate the time.
The Night, in which Eternity joined the temporality –
– To direct the temporality course (run) towards Eternity.
The Night, in which Immortality dressed up in mortality –
– so all what is mortal wouldn’t die until the very end.
The Night, in which the Height lowered Himself to minimum (beneath)-
– To exalt lowness.
The Night, in which Power has become a weakness –
– To strengthen the weakness.
The Night, in which the Omnipotence became the helplessness –
– So helplessness would gained more strength.
The Night, in which Almighty God has appeared in the vulnerability of the infant.
The Night, in which the Almighty God – in the vulnerability and helplessness of a baby- showed the Power of Love
For Only Love He can give to those, whom He loves,
Only Love of all things, believes and puts trust in everything.
It is easy to hurt, trample Love, as easy as to hurt a baby.
But who will be happy in a world that tramples on Love,
who will feel safe when even infants are hurt?
* * *
But if someone cuddles a baby to the chest ……
If you take love to the heart …………..”
by Anonymus
Les
December 25, 2011 10:04 am
Palestinian Christians have a remarkable number of creeds.
I was thinking today that Christianity plays no small part in the agony. I was at Christmas mass today and there were 3 or 4 references to the people of Israel and the return to Zion. It was supposed to herald the return of the Messiah but has turned into an absolute hell. Like the sacred that turned profane. And the Jewish religion has been hollowed out as well as a consequence.
A beautiful poem for all who care
“The Night, in which Love came down to Earth.
The Night, in which the Light shone, the Light that shines eternally glew in time –
– To illuminate the time.
The Night, in which Eternity joined the temporality –
– To direct the temporality course (run) towards Eternity.
The Night, in which Immortality dressed up in mortality –
– so all what is mortal wouldn’t die until the very end.
The Night, in which the Height lowered Himself to minimum (beneath)-
– To exalt lowness.
The Night, in which Power has become a weakness –
– To strengthen the weakness.
The Night, in which the Omnipotence became the helplessness –
– So helplessness would gained more strength.
The Night, in which Almighty God has appeared in the vulnerability of the infant.
The Night, in which the Almighty God – in the vulnerability and helplessness of a baby- showed the Power of Love
For Only Love He can give to those, whom He loves,
Only Love of all things, believes and puts trust in everything.
It is easy to hurt, trample Love, as easy as to hurt a baby.
But who will be happy in a world that tramples on Love,
who will feel safe when even infants are hurt?
* * *
But if someone cuddles a baby to the chest ……
If you take love to the heart …………..”
by Anonymus
Palestinian Christians have a remarkable number of creeds.
Great, arabic Christmas carol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvjiVam2HO4
and two , pretty untypical versions of one of my favourite English Chrstimas carols
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMdXikyXVNY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hRVGIM4qH4&feature=related
I was thinking today that Christianity plays no small part in the agony. I was at Christmas mass today and there were 3 or 4 references to the people of Israel and the return to Zion. It was supposed to herald the return of the Messiah but has turned into an absolute hell. Like the sacred that turned profane. And the Jewish religion has been hollowed out as well as a consequence.