Bethlehem:Representing President Mahmoud Abbas, Ramzi Khoury, a member of the PLO Executive Committee and head of the Presidential High Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, welcomed Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil in Bethlehem. This marks Patriarch Daniil's first visit to the Holy Land since his accession to the patriarchal see.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency , the Patriarch arrived with an official church delegation. The visit holds significant ecclesiastical and spiritual importance and was marked by an official reception in the courtyard of the Church of the Nativity. Attendees included Bethlehem Governor Mohammad Taha, Bethlehem Deputy Mayor Gries Qara'a, Beit Sahour Mayor Laith Qumsieh, Palestinian security and police commanders, clergy, dignitaries, and representatives from the Franciscan and Armenian communities.
After the reception, Patriarch Daniil entered the Church of the Nativity and visited the Grotto of the Nativity, where prayers were conducted with clergy and attendees present. Khoury expressed appreciation for the visit to Bethlehem, the city traditionally seen as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, emphasizing its spiritual and humanitarian message.
Khoury highlighted the significance of visits by church leaders to the Holy Land, noting their role in supporting the Palestinian people and enhancing the enduring Christian presence in Palestine. Patriarch Daniil acknowledged the Holy Land's history of invasions and wars but praised its people's strength and commitment to their land and faith, urging them to remain resilient and prayerful.