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Celebration of Armenian Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany started in Bethlejhem.

The Orthodox Armenian patriarch of Jerusalem, Nourhan Manougian, arrived Wednesday at Manager Square in Bethlehem, to mark the start of celebration, WAFA reported.

Manougian’s procession started from the Armenian Patriarchate, located within the Monastery of St. James in the Old City of Jerusalem, and made its way to Manger Square via Jaffa Gate. On his way the patriarch was greeted by the mayors of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour and by Bethlehem Governor Jebrin al-Bakri, Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun and the Armenian community representatives after reaching Bethlehem.

Orthodox Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas nearly two weeks due to the use of different calendars. Roman Catholic Christians and other western denominations mark the feast using the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christians and most Armenian denominations celebrate the feast using the Julian calendar, while the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem marks Christmas and Epiphany together on January 19.

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