A Franciscan monk makes his way through Manger Square, passing under a large shooting star Christmas decoration in the West Bank town of Bethlehem as he makes his way to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally accepted as the birth place of Jesus Christ, for evening prayers on 22 December 2008. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
Christmas light decorations are switched on in Manger Square in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 22 December 2008, with the Church of the Nativity, traditionally accepted as the birth place of Jesus Christ. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
A slow exposure shows a Franciscan monk as he leaves the 'Grtto','as other monks and pilgrims pray at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem late on 22 December 2008. Too the left is a small sunken area that is the Manger, the area whre the Virgin mary placed the Baby Jesus after giving birth several meters to the left at a place now marked with a 14-pont silver star. The grotto is lit with oil lamps and has many paintings of Mary with the Baby Jesus. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
Christian worshippers pray in the 'Grotto', or cave, at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on 23 December 2008. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Christian worshippers light candles inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on 23 December 2008. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Christian worshippers pray at the 'Grotto', or cave, at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on 23 December 2008. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
A monk pray in the 'Grotto', or cave, at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on 23 December 2008. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
A woman and her son stick their fingers into holes in one of the columns at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on 23 December 2008. Some believe that if you stick one of your fingers into one of the holes and make a wish, the wish will be granted. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Christian worshippers pray at the 'Grotto', or cave, at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on 23 December 2008. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Palestinian police chat under a large shooting star Christmas decoration at the edge of Manger Square in the West Bank town of Bethlehem as the lights are switched on on 22 December 2008. Behind is the Church of the Nativity, traditionally accepted as the birth place of Jesus Christ. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
A Palestinian policeman watches as a worker applies a fresh coat of paint to part of a wall in the Church of the Nativity, the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ, as an Orthodox priest sits in the Greek Orthodox section in the central nave of the ancient church in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 22 December 2008. The church is being spruced-up ahead of the official Christmas-eve procession to be held on December 24. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
A nun visits the 'Grotto,' of cave area in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 22 December 2008, as she stands next to the painted leather wall covering and a painting of the Baby Jesus while looking towards the niche that holds a siler star marking the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ. Christians and tourists are flocking the ancient church to view where Jesus was born in the lead-up to the Christmas celebrations on December 24. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
A Christian clergy light oil lamps in the Manger of the 'Grotto' in the Church of the Nativity, the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 22 December 2008. The lamps were just cleaned and the oil replaced for religious activities that will take place in the coming days during Christmas celebrations. The painting behind shows the transference of the Baby Jesus to the Manger directly after his birth by the Virgin Mary. A silver star marks the birthplace several meters away from the Manger area. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
A Christian Orthodox clergyman stis in the 'Grotto' of the Church of the Nativity the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on 22 December 2008, in a quiet moment when pilgrims and tourists are not crowding the small cave where a niche (behind, R) holds a silver star marking the birthplace of Christ. At left, the candles are on the Manger area, where the Virgin Mary transfered the Baby Jesus after giving birth. The small grott is lit by oil lamps and is underneath the main alter and nave of one of the most important and notable ancient churches in the world. Christians are flocking to Bethlehem to view where Jesus was born and the annual procession will be held here on December 24. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
Franciscan monks pray in the 'Grotto', or cave, at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem late on 22 December 2008. The grotto is lit with oil lamps and has many paintings of Mary with the Baby Jesus. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
A group of visiting pilgrims at prayer in the 'Grotto', or cave, as they pary at the traditionally accepted birth place of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem late on 22 December 2008. The grotto is lit with oil lamps and has many paintings of Mary with the Baby Jesus. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER
