Middle East Features

In photos: 'Bethlehem - Christmas preparations'

By M&C News Dec 21, 2007, 14:05 GMT

A Christian pilgrim reaches out to touch the silver star in a niche in the 'Grotto,' or cave, in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 21 December 2007. The silver star, inlaid in the marble floor, and surrounded by oil lamps and religious icons, marks the traditional place of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. The Grotto is one of the most popular tourists sites in the Holy Land and Palestinians are now seeing an influx of both tourists and pilgrims for the annual Christmas celebrations. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Christian Franciscan monks and nuns hold a candle procession on 21 December 2007 through an Armenian section in the Church of the Nativity as they walk from Saint Catherine's Church into the Nativity Church and then down into the 'Grotto,' or cave, where they pray before the silver star in a niche marking the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ on Christmas day, in the town of Bethlehem, on the West Bank. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Palestinian sisters in Santa Claus outfits in the central nave of the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ on Christmas, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 19 December 2007. At left are trap doors which open to show the ancient mosaic floor. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Palestinian Christian woman carries her baby on 21 December 2007 under a painting of the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus hanging above a doorway in the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ on Christmas day, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Christian pilgrim bows in prayer before the silver star in a niche in the 'Grotto,' or cave, in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 21 December 2007. The silver star, inlaid in the marble floor, and surrounded by oil lamps and religious icons, marks the traditional place of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. The Grotto is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Holy Land and Palestinians are now seeing an influx of both tourists and pilgrims for the annual Christmas celebrations. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Christian pilgrim walks among the large marble columns in the central nave of the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 19 December 2007. The church is one of the oldest in the world with its 'Grotto,' or cave, under the main altar, which is the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Palestinian Christian lights a candle as a Christian priest and several nuns hold a prayer service in the small 'Manger' (R) area inside the 'Grotto,' or cave in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 19 December 2007. Visiting pilgrims kneel and look at the niche (L) lit by oil lamps and containing a silver star marking the traditionally accepted place where Jesus Chrsit was born on Christmas day. The Grotto is one of the most popular tourists sites in the Holy Land and Palestinians are hoping for an influx of both tourists and pilgrims for the annual Christmas celebrations. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A priest holds aloft a Host during a Christian service inside the small 'Manger' area inside the 'Grotto,' or cave in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 19 December 2007. A silver star in a niche (behind, left) lit by oil lamps hanging among religious icons, marks the traditionally accepted place where Jesus Chrsit was born on Christmas day. The Grotto is one of the most popular tourists sites in the Holy Land and Palestinians are hoping for an influx of both tourists and pilgrims for the annual Christmas celebrations. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Christian pilgrim stands on his toes on 19 December 2007 to touch the carved marble above the arched doorway leading from the main area of the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem down into the 'Grotto,' or cave, where a silver star marks the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ. The samll grotto is one of the most popular tourists places in the Holy Land and Palestinians are hoping for an influx of both tourists and pilgrims during the annual Christmas celebrations. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Palestinian girl in a Santa Claus outfit passes the massive, ancient marble columns in the central nave of the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ on Christmas, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, 19 December 2007. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Russian Christian pilgrims take photographs as they tour the central nave in the ancient Church of the Nativity, the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 17 December 2007. The church and town are readying for an influx of tourists and pilgrims in the lead-up to the annual Christmas celebrations. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Christian pilgrims visiting the Church of the Nativity, the traditionally accepted as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, pray during a candle procession in the 'Grotto,' or cave, during a Fransiscan service on 17 December 2007. An elderly man, said to be 91 years old, and originally from Sri Lanka, but now living in London, bows his head next to a young pilgrim boy standing in front of a monk. The church, one of the world's oldest, is readying itself for the Christmas celebrations. The Groptto contains a niche with a silver star marking the place of Jesus' birth and oil lamps hang from the ceiling. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER