Jan 07, Bethlehem
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, hosted a dinner in honor of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa Monday evening (Jan 6) on the Eve of Eastern Christmas Celebrations.
President Rajapaksa, First Lady, Palestinian President Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and local and foreign dignitaries were present at the dinner hosted by the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.
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The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, celebrates the Eastern Orthodox Christmas on January 7. Most Eastern Orthodox Christian denominations celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on January 7, in contrast to the Western Christian tradition of celebrating on Dec 25.
The Church of the Nativity is a basilica located in Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site, and was the first to be listed under Palestine by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The site is also on UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites in Danger. Due to its cultural and geographical history, the site holds a prominent religious significance to those of both the Christian and Islamic faiths.
Special prayer blessings were conducted at the holy site, known as the Grotto, at the Church by the orthodox priests.
Later in the evening, President, First Lady, and the Palestinian President attended the midnight Mass for the Orthodox Christmas Eve at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem conducted by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
(Photos by Sudath Silva)
2 comments:
Long Live the Greek Orthodox Church ... the FIRST CHURCH of Christendom!
ABSOLUTE HOGWASH!
In which Universe are Sovereign Nations BLACKMAILED under the threat of Military Invasion & Occupation by Aggressors REQUIRED to "HONOUR" the Blackmailer's DEMANDS?
Did Czechkoslovakia HONOR Hitler's demand for giving up the Sudetenland to Germany on the eve of World War II? As soon as Nazi Germany was defeated, Czechkoslovakia recovered its stolen territory and resurrected itself as a Sovereign Nation.
Sri Lanka should REPEAL the 13th Amendment IMPOSED by India upon Sri Lanka, and DISMANTLE the Provincial Council System in favor od Districts administered by Government Agents appointed by the FREELY ELECTED Government of Sovereign Sri Lanka!
GET RID of this FOREIGN BALL & CHAIN shackling her limbs, and FREE Mother Lanka from SERVITUDE to India!
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India expects Sri Lanka to honor agreement with former Indian Prime Minister
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jan 09, New Delhi: India expects Sri Lanka to honor the 1987 Indo-Lanka agreement reached with the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a top Indian diplomat has said.
In an exclusive interview with Altaf Ahmad of Khabar South Asia India' External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid describing the relations with Sri Lanka has said that India was assured that the 13th Amendment would provide a solution applicable to all communities.
"We were assured that the 13th amendment would give Sri Lankans, Tamils and other ethnicities the right to live with dignity and honor," Khurshid said.
When asked whether the Indian government is ready to assist Sri Lanka to calm Sinhalese concerns about a northern Tamil political power base, the Indian Minister has noted that Sri Lanka as a sovereign state has to made the decision on a suitable solution.
"Sri Lanka is a sovereign state. It is for them to decide about their country," Khurshid said.
"Our concern is that the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be respected," he noted.
"The Sri Lankan government sought our help, and, in response to that, we were promised that there would be devolution of power from the center to states -- like it is in India," he added.
Sri Lankan President has assured India that a solution which goes beyond the 13th Amendment would be considered as the political solution to the ethnic problem.
The Sri Lankan government has appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for all political parties in parliament to arrive at a consensus on a political solution.
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