Armenian patriach arrives for Armenian Christmas celebrations

(18 Jan 2004)
1. Various shot of parade through Manger Square
2. Close up of Armenian priest
3. Armenian Patriarch Archbishop Torkom Mannogian arriving
4. Armenian priests chanting
5. Armenian religious leaders at procession
6. Archbishop Mannogian entering Church of the Nativity, followed by entourage
7. Priest lighting candles inside Church of the Nativity
8. People entering Church of the Nativity

STORYLINE:

Armenian Patriarch Archbishop Torkom Mannogian arrived in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Saturday, ahead of Sunday evening's Armenian Christmas Eve Mass.

Armenians worldwide celebrate Christmas on the 6th of January or the Epiphany. But the Armenian community in the Holy Land does it on the 19th of January because they use the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian, to determine the date of religious feasts.

On the day before Christmas, the Patriarch leaves Jerusalem for Bethlehem and is welcomed by a colourful procession through Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity.

He is then led into the temple, where later in the day he will lead mass.

The Armenian community in the Holy Land numbers around two-thousand people.

Worldwide there are about 8 (m) million Armenians, with slightly less than half in Armenia itself.

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