Patriarch Theophilos invites Palestine president to Christmas in Bethlehem
Patriarch Theophilos III and President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the Christmas service at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This was reported by the Orthodoxia News Agency.
The Patriarchal Locum Tenens of Jerusalem in Bethlehem, Metropolitan Benedict of Diocaesarea, also conveyed invitations to the Christmas vigil to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Sheikh.
During the most recent meeting between Metropolitan Benedict and Hussein al-Sheikh, which took place on December 29, 2025, the parties emphasized the spiritual significance of Palestine as a land bearing witness to the faith. The hierarch of the Jerusalem Church and the deputy prime minister pointed to the need to strengthen unity and fraternity within Palestinian society, especially amid present-day trials. Participants in the meeting noted that the feast of the Nativity of Christ has a supraconfessional significance and serves as a symbol that unites the Palestinian people.
As the UOJ previously reported, a Christmas tree was erected in Bethlehem’s main square for the first time in two years.
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