Christmas embodies the values of love, peace, solidarity and unity among people. With these sentiments, many families and faithful came to Bethlehem from Galilee to celebrate Christmas together with the local faithful and to reward them at least a little, after two years of absence of pilgrims. BADI'AH ATIQ Nazareth "Bethlehem must be reborn at Christmas time! Christmas time is a time of goodness, blessing and peace: each of us wanted to be here. Personally, I organized a bus to come here to celebrate Christmas and support the people of Bethlehem. We came here from all over Galilee, from the villages.... it's really moving." On January 6, Christmas celebrations opened for the Churches that follow the Julian calendar. It is the day of the solemn entrance of the patriarchs: the monk Simeon, representative of the patriarchal vicar of the Syrian Orthodox in Jerusalem and Jordan, Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem of the Copts, and finally the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City and all Palestine, Theophilus III. THEOPHILUS III Patriarch of the Holy City and all Palestine for the Greek Orthodox "We ask the Lord to give us health, strength and patience to remain in our country, in the city of Bethlehem, the land of peace." ANBA ANTHONIOS Metropolitan of Jerusalem of the Copts "In this place the angels gave the announcement to the shepherds with the words "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will." We wish peace to the whole world and that this epidemic will finally end. Let us pray and say, "O Lord, make this epidemic cease, and grant all peoples peace and joy." Monk SIMEON Representative of the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox in Jerusalem and Jordan "Lord, give us blessed days! May countries open up to one another, and may tourists return from all over the world, as they did until two years ago, before the Coronavirus outbreak. We ask this with all our hope, love and faith. Merry Christmas!" The birth of Christ in Bethlehem is God's greatest gift to humanity. A source of joy and hope even in times of difficulty. Christian of Jerusalem "God willing, the new year will be a year of goodness and love, a year in which to forget the pain, problems and epidemic of these years. We all hope that the King of Peace will bring peace and goodness into our hearts, and that good will prevail over evil." On this feast of Orthodox Christmas, prayers are raised from Bethlehem for health, well-being and peace.