Representing President Mahmoud Abbas, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, participated in the midnight mass celebrating the holy occasions of Christmas and Epiphany for the Armenian Orthodox Church.
The solemn mass, held at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Sevan Gharibyan of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, and attended by clergy, deacons, and a host of distinguished figures. Among those present were Bethlehem Governor Mohammad Taha, Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek, as well as political dignitaries, representatives of security agencies, and members of the Armenian community.
Dr. Khouri conveyed warm greetings and heartfelt holiday wishes from President Mahmoud Abbas to the Armenian Orthodox congregation in Palestine, Armenia, and across the globe.
In his remarks, Dr. Khouri reflected on the special significance of this year’s celebrations, which coincide with an internationally brokered ceasefire agreement in Gaza, a testament to the enduring message of peace and love brought by Jesus Christ. He expressed hope that the coming year will witness the fulfillment of the Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom and independence, celebrating Christmas within a sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
