Bethlehem’s iconic Church of the Nativity re-opens
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Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, considered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ welcomed back worshippers and tourists as of this morning as Palestinian authorities started to ease social restrictions in the region.
The Church is limiting access to 50 people at a time while wearing protective masks.
It had been closed since 5th March, a blow to the local tourism industry.
“The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ gave hope to people more than 2,000 years ago, and opening the church today will, I think, give hope to the whole world that hopefully this pandemic will end – not only in Palestine but in the whole world,” Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Ma’ayah told Reuters.
There have been 423 recorded coronavirus cases and two deaths in the West Bank.
On Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced mosques, churches and businesses would reopen on Tuesday in an easing of anti-pandemic curbs, given the slow pace of infections.
The reopening of houses of worship, shops and factories took place on the last day of the Eid El-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
“Today is a big Eid for Bethlehem and for believers,” said Bishop Theophylactos, who heads the Greek Orthodox Church in Bethlehem.
