Christmas 2010 in Israel; service and mass schedules

From Bethlehem to Jerusalem, find out where to pray this holiday season in the holy land.

Church 311 (photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Church 311
(photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
For more information on Christians sites and travel in Israel, visit Travelujah.com
In Israel for the holidays? Whether you are Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox or any other sect of Christianity, there are plenty of places to celebrate Christmas this year in the holy land.
This week, thousands will ascend upon the infamous Church of the Nativity located Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve visitors and locals will crowd the church's ancient doorways and gather on the roof to watch for the striking procession. However there are many other historical and religious Christian sites to visit this Christmas season and there is certainly no shortage of services to attend.
Here is a list by Travelujah.com of just some of church’s service schedules:
Christmas Services in Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Anglican Cathedral of St. George(Tel: 02-627-1670, Fax 02-627-3847) 20 Nablus Road, www.j-diocese.org
Dec 24, 2010  4:00PMCarol Service in the Shepherds Field (YMCA) of Beit SahourArabic and English
7:00PMBuses depart from the Cathedral in Jerusalem tor BethlehemReservations required. Deadline for reservations is Dec. 15Contact the Cathedral at the above phone number for details.  9:00PMService of Lessons & Carols in the Nativity Church of BethlehemBuses return to Jerusalem following the serviceArabic and English
11:30PMHoly Eucharsit "Midnight Mass" for the feast of the Nativity at theCathedral, Jerusalem Arabic and English
Dec 25, 20108:00AMHoly Eucharist, Christmas DayEnglish
10:00AMHoly Eucharist, Christmas DayArabic and English
6:00PMEvening PrayerEnglish
Dec 26, 20108:00AMHoly Eucharist, St. Stephen's DayEnglish
9:30AMHoly EucharistArabic and English
11:00AMHoly EucharistEnglish
Christ Church(Tel: 02-627-7727/9, Fax 02-628-2999)Jaffa Gate
Dec 24, 20107:00PM-10:00PMChristmas Carols in the Church
10:30PMNine Lessons and Carols with Eucharist  Dec 25, 201010:30PMFamily Christmas Service with Eucharist   Dec 31, 201011:00PMNew Year's Eve Service With Eucharist 
 LUTHERAN CHURCH OF REDEEMER(Tel: 02-626-6800, Fax 02-627-6222)Old City, Muristan Road(services in Arabic and German)
 Dec 24, 2010 4:00PM Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem Arabic
 5:00PM Service the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Multilingual
 10:30PM* Christmette in Redeemer Church, Jerusalem German
Dec 25, 2010 9:00AM* Holy Eucharist Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Redeemer Church, Jerusalem Arabic
 10:30AM Abendmahlsgottesdienst in Redeemer Church German
*For organizational reasons admission only with free tickets, available on request from propstei@redeemer-jerusalem.com or 02-6266800 These tickets need to be picked up in our congregational office during our opening hours until December 21st 2010.
  Dec 26, 2010 10:30AM Abendmahlsgottesdienst in Redeemer Church German
Dec 31, 2010 5:00PM New Years Eve Service in Redeemer Church Arabic
 7:00PM Gottesdienst zum Jehreswechel in Redeemer Church German
Jan 01, 2011 11:00AM Neujahrsandacht in Himmelfahrkirche, Augusta Victoria Gelände Arabic
Jan 02, 2011 5:00PM Abendmahlsgottesdienst zum Neuen Jahr, Latrun/Jesusbruderschaft in Redeemer Church German
Lutheran Church:Services in English
Dec 23, 2010 9:00AM Service and Eucharist, St. John Chapel, Redeemer Church English
Dec 24, 2010 5:00PM Service in the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Multilingual
Dec 25, 2010 10:00AM Service and Eucharist, St. John Chapel, Redeemer Church English
Dec 30, 2010 9:00AM Service and Eucharist, St. John Chapel, Redeemer Church English
 Church Of The Ascension(Tel. 628-7704, Fax. 627-3148)Augusta Victoria Compound, Mount of Olives
 Dec 26, 2010 4:00PM Christmas Carol Singing   Jan 01, 2011 11:00AM Neujahrsandacht in Himmelfahrtskirche Arabic
Jan 06, 2011 5:00PM Abendmahlsgottesdienst zu Epiphanias German
St. Andrew's Scots Memorial Church(Tel. 673-2401, Fax. 673-1711)David Remez Street, 1
 Dec 24, 2010 11:15PM Christmas Watchnight Service English
Dec 25, 2010 10:15AM Christmas Communion Service English
  
The Danish Luth. Church - The Danish Israel Mission(Tel. 532-4254, Fax. 532-4254)Bar Kochba Street 91/5 - Mob. 054-442-3154 (Pastor Jakob Wilms Niesen)
 Dec 24, 2010  2:00PM  Julegudstjeneste i Sct. John's Chapel Danish
 Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission(Tel. 628-8631, Fax. 628-4561)Shivtei Israel Street 25
 Dec 25, 2010 9:00AM Christmas Worship Finnish
Jan 02, 2011 3:00PM Worship Service Finnish
 Jerusalem International Y.M.C.A.(Tel. 569-2692, Fax. 6253438)King David Street 26
Dec 24, 2010 7:00PM Christmas Eve Family Carol Service English
Swedish Theological Institute(Tel.625-3822, Fax. 6254460)Prophets' Street 58
 Dec 25, 2010 6:00PM Julagen Christmas Day Swedish
Jan 01, 2011 6:00PM New Year's Day Swedish
Y.M.C.A., East Jerusalem(Tel. 628-6888, 628-5210 Fax. 627-6301)Nablus Road 29
Dec 24, 2010 4:30PM Christmas Eve Service at Y.M.C.A. Shepherds' Fields, Beit Sahour. Buses will leave from East Jerusalem YMCA at 3:30PM. (Fees: US$ 7.00 per person) N.B.: Last day for registration for the bus is December 22.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Catholic Celebrations in Bethlehem and JerusalemIn the Grotto of the Nativity, in St. Catherine's Church and other SanctuariesBethlehem
 Dec 15-23, 2010 4:30PM Novena of Christmas in St. Catherine
Dec 24, 2010 1:00PM   Tomb of Rachel: His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, is welcomed by, Latin Parish Priest of Bethlehem and representatives of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.
 1:30PM  Manager Square: Solemn Entry of His Beatitude into the Basilica of the Navtivity and St. Catherine Church followed by Pontifical Vespers.
 4:00PM  St. Catherine: Procession to the Nativity Grotto.
 10:00PM  St. Catherine: The Church opens. Tickets, free of charge, required.
 11:00PM  St. Catherine: Solemn "Office of Readings".
Dec 25, 2010 12:00MN  St Catherine: Pontifical Eucharisitc Concelebration
 12:00MN  The Grotto: Low Masses till 1:30AM in Arabic (Tickets required); from 2:30AM Interruption at 5:30AM till 7:00AM approximately
 1:30AM  St. Catherine: Solemn traditional Procession to the Grotto until 2:30AM.
 10:00AM  St. Catherine: Pontifical
2:00PM  Pilgrimage to the Orthodox Grotto of the Shepherds and the Latin Chapel of Shepherds' Field.
Dec 26, 2010 Feast of the Holy Family (Stephen's Day)   St. Catherine: Holy Masses at 6:30AM, 7:30AM, 9:00AM Solemn Mass, 11:00AM, 4:30PM.
Dec 27, 2010 Feast of St. John Evangelist   St. Catherine: Holy Masses at 6:30AM, 7:00AM.
Dec 28, 2010 Feast of the Holy Innocents   St. Catherine: Holy Masses at 6:30AM, 7:00AM.
10:00AM  Sung Mass in the Grotto of the Holy Innocents.
 3:00PM  Vespers in the Grotto of the Holy innocents.
Dec 29, 2010 3:00PM Shepherds' Fields, Bet Sahour: Solemn Mass in commemoration of the Shepherds.
Dec 31, 2010 New Year's Eve 4:30PM  Holy Mass of thanksgiving with TE DEUM
Jan 01, 2011 11:00AM  Solemn Mass at St. Catherine followed by Procession to the Milk Grotto.
 4:30PM  Holy Mass at Church of St. Francis
Jan 02, 2011 St. Catherine: Holy Masses at 6:30AM 7:30AM, 11:00AM, 4:30PM.
Jan 05, 2011 11:00AM  Tomb of Rachel: His Paternity the Custos of the Holy Land is welcomed by Latin Parish Priest and other representatives of Bethlehem.
11:30AM  Manager Square: Solemn Entry of his Paternity the Custos of the Holy Land into the Basilica of the Nativity and St. Catherine Church.  1:45PM  St. Catherine: Pontifical Vespers and Procession to the Grotto.
 3:30PM  St. Catherine: Office Readings and Procession to the Grotto.
Jan 06, 2011 12:00MN  The Grotto:Holy Masses till 12:00AM with an interruption between 5:00AM and 7:00AM
 7:00AM  St. Catherine: Holy Mass
 10:00AM  St. Catherine: Pontifical Eucharistic Concelebration.
 3:30PM St. Catherine: Sung Vespers and Solemn traditional Procession to the Grotto: Veneration of the Infant Jesus with the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh
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Orthodox Christmas Services 2011 in Bethlehem and Jerusalem
Greek, Syrian and Coptic Churches(Tel. 274-1020)Basilica of the Nativity, Manager Square
 Jan 06, 20118:30AM The Syrian Archbishop arrives at Manager Square  10:00AM The Coptic Archbishop arrives at Manager Square  11:00AM H.B. the Greek Patriarch arrives at Manager Square Vespers, Liturgy ends at 3:30PM  1:00PM Syrian first Liturgy and Exaltation of the Holy Cross in The Grotto  2:30PM Coptic Vespers  3:00PM Syrian Vespers
10:30PM Greek Matins  10:40PM Syrian Mid-Night and morning official Order Prayers  11:00PM Coptic Mid-Night and morning official Order Prayers  12:00MN Greek Service, ends at 3:30AM 
Jan 07,2011  2:00AM-5:00AM  High Liturgy and the Second Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Grotto 
 Romanian Church(Tel. 626-4628)The Romanian Church participates in all liturgies and prayers of the Greek Orthodox Church. 
Ethiopian Church(Tel. 628-2848, Fax. 626-4189)Ethiopian monastery of Peace-Church of Eyesus, Milk Grotto Street
 Jan 06, 20113:00PM Arrival at the Manager Square and procession to the Church of Eyesus  4:00PM  Vespers till 5:00PM  8:45PM  Bells, prayers and veneration of the Icons  9:50PM  Laudes (Mahlet)
12:00MN  Midnight Liturgy (Kidassie) 
Jan 07, 20116:00AM Dispersal or completion of the Festivity 
Armenian Church(Tel. 274-2410)Basilica of the Nativity, Manager Square
Jan 18, 2011
11:00AM Arrival of the H.B. the Armenian Patriarch on Manager Square
 
2:30PM Entry in the Basilica of Nativity - Vespers and Christmas Eve Mass
 
10:00PM Armenian Midnight Service, ends at 1:00AM
 
 
Jan 19, 2011
1:00AM Blessing of the Holy Water & Episcopal High Mass in the Grotto, ends at 6:00AM
 
 
 
 JERUSALEM
Greek Church
(Tel. 628-2025)
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City
Jan 06, 2011
11:15PM  Midnight Service
 
Romanian Church, Shivtei Israel Street 46
(Tel. 626-4628)
 
Jan 06, 2011
7:00PM Vespers
 
Jan 07/08/09
8:30AM Holy Liturgy
 
 
Russian Church St. Mary Magdalene, Gethsemane
(Tel. 628-4371, Fax. 628-2367)
Jan 06, 2011
10:00AM
Vespers, Liturgy of St. Basil
 
5:00PM Vigil Service
 
 
Jan 07, 2011
8:00AM Divine Liturgy
 
4:30PM Vespers
 
 Jan 08, 2011
 7:00AM Divine Liturgy
 
 
Russian Church (Moscow Mission), Russian Compound, Kheshin Street
(Tel. 625-2565, Fax. 625-6325)
 Jan 06, 2011
 5:00PM
 
 
Jan 07, 2011
 12:00MN
 
Armenian Church
(Tel. 628-2331, Mob. 052-931-8578)
 
Jan 25, 2011
 3:00PM Vespers in St. James Cathedral
 Holy Sepulchre:

Jan 26, 2011
 8:30AM High Mass
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