Tis the Season to … Go to a Holy Land Church (and Christmas Mass)

Date

With the arrival of Advent and the Christmas season, the Holy Land has no dearth of services and masses to attend in preparation for Christmas, be it on Dec. 25, or the Armenian Celebration on Jan. 6 or the Orthodox celebration on Jan. 7, 2013

To make it easy for you Travelujah has created the following listing, by city, church and denomination, of the services from now until the end of the Orthodox Christmas season, on Jan. 7. And as an added bonus, if you are not yet in the Holy Land, you can catch mass from the Milk Grotto live. Click here for more details.

church of the nativity, bethlehemBETHLEHEM

1. St. Catherine’s and Grotto of the Nativity

Tel. 274.2425

December 15-23, 4:30 p.m.

Novena of Christmas

December 24, 1 p.m.

Tomb of Rachel – Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, is welcomed by, Latin Parish Priest of Bethlehem and representatives of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour

Photo: Travelujah

December 24, 2:30 p.m.

Manger Square – Solemn Entry of His Beatitude into the Basilica of the Nativity and

St. Catherine Church followed by Pontifical Vespers.

December 24, 4 p.m.

St. Catherine – Daily Procession to the Nativity Grotto

December 24, 9 p.m.

St. Catherine opens (tickets required – click here for more info)

December 24, 11 p.m.

St. Catherine – Solemn Office of Readings

shepherd's field, bethlehem, christmasDecember 25

Midnight at St. Catherine – Pontifical Eucharistic Concelebration (tickets required – click here for more info)

Mass at the Manger Grotto and Low masses until 1:30 a.m. in Arabic (tickets required – click here for more info)

1:30 a.m. at St. Catherine – Solemn traditional orocession to the Grotto until 2:30 a.m.

2:30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto – Low masses till 5:15 pm (no tickets required)

Photo: Travelujah

7:30 a.m. at St. Catherine – Parish mass in Arabic

10 a.m. at St. Catherine – Pontifical Christmas mass in Arabic and Latin

2 p.m. – Pilgrimage to Greek and then to Latin Shepherd’s Field

 

December 26

5 p.m. at the Manger Grotto for Feast of St. Stephen

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 a.m. At St. Catherine for Arabic mass

7:30 p.m at St. Catherine for holy masses

December 27

5 a.m. at Manger Grotto for Feast of St. John Evangelist

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for Arabic mass

Noon – Daily Procession to the Grotto

December 28, Feast of the Holy Innocents

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for Arabic mass

10 a.m. at the Grotto of the Holy Innocents for Latin Mass

Noon – Daily Procession to the Grotto

2 p.m. at the Grotto of the Holy Innocents for vespers

December 29

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

Noon – Daily Procession to the Grotto

3 p.m. at Shepherd’s Field for solemn mass at in commemoration of the shepherds

December 31

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

2 p.m. procession to Grotto for solemn vespers

4:30 p.m. Holy Mass of Thanksgiving in Arabic

January 1

grotto, church of the nativity, bethlehem, christmas5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 and 9 a.m. at St. Catherine for Arabic mass

11 a.m. Mass followed by Procession to the Milk Grotto with the Icon of Virgin Mary.

January 5, Eve of Epiphany

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

Photo: Travelujah

11 a.m. at the Tomb of Rachel the Custos of the Holy Land is welcomed by Latin Parish Priest and other representatives of Bethlehem

1:45 p.m. at St. Catherine for Pontifical vespers and procession to the Grotto

3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine for Office of Readings and procession to the Grotto

January 6, Epiphany

Midnight at the Grotto

Holy Masses till 9 a.m. with an interruption between 1 and 2:30 a.m. approximately

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for holy mass

10 a.m. at St. Catherine for Pontifical mass in Latin and Arabic

3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine for solemn vespers and solemn traditional procession to eh Grotto; Veneration of Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

2. Greek Catholic Church

Star Street

Tel. 274.2493

December 24

8 p.m. Divine Liturgy in Arabic

December 25

9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Arabic

December 26

10 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Arabic

3. Salesian Fathers
Paul VI Street

Tel. 274.2421

December 24

6 p.m. Christmas Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart’s in Arabic

December 25

8:30 a.m. Christmas Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart’s in Arabic

4. Syrian Catholic Church
Manger Street
Tel. 274.2497

December 24
7 p.m. Holy mass in Assyrian and Arabic

JERUSALEM

CATHOLIC PARISHES

1. Armenian Catholic Vicariate
Via Dolorosa 3rd Station
Tel. 628.4262

December 24
4 p.m. Solemn High Mass of the Vigil in Armenian

December 25

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Armenian

January 1

10 a.m. High Mass in armenian

January 6
10 a.m. High Mass of Epiphany & Baptism of Jesus in Armenian

austrian hospice2. Austrian Hospice
Via Dolorosa 37
Tel. 626.5800

December 24

10 p.m. Celebration of the Holy Night in German

December 25

5 p.m. Holy Mass in German

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 26

8 a.m. Holy Mass in German

January 1
10:30 a.m. Holy Mass in German

3. Franciscans of Mary
Nablus Road 9
Tel. 627.6876

December 25
9:30 a.m. Holy Mass in French

4. Greek Catholic Patriarchate
Jaffa Gate
Tel. 628.2023

December 23

10 a.m. Paramon: Vespers and Divine liturgy, St. Basil Prayer

December 24

4:30 p.m. Vespers and Divine Liturgy, blessed bread

December 25

9 a.m. Office & Pontifical liturgy at the Patriarchate

December 26

9 a.m. Divine Liturgy at the patriarchate

December 31
6 p.m. Vespers and blessing of the bread

January 1

9 a.m. Divine liturgy at the patriarchate

January 5

10 a.m. Paramon: Vespers and Divine liturgy,

6 p.m. Blessing of the bread & Pontifical Mass

January 6

9 a.m. Office & Pontifical Liturgy at the patriarchate

dormition abbey5. Dormition Abbey
Mount Zion
Tel. 565.5330

December 24

Midnight Mass in German

December 25

11 a.m. Mass in German

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 26

8 a.m. Mass in German

January 1
9 a.m. Mass in German

6. House of Saints Simeon and Anna

HaRav Kook St. 10,
Tel. 624.8255

December 24

9 p.m. Holy Mass in Hebrew

December 25

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Hebrew

7. Latin Patriarchate
Jaffa Gate
Tel. 628.2323

January 1

10:30 a.m. Feast of the Mother of God, High Mass for Peace in Arabic

8. Maronite Vicariate
Jaffa Gate, Maronite Convent Road 25
Tel. 628.2158

December 25

10 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic and Assyrian

9. Pontifical Institute – Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
New Gatenotre dame, jerusalem
Tel. 627.9111

December 24
11:30 p.m. Carols and Christmas Midnight Mass (multilingual)

December 25

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass (multilingual)

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass (multilingual)

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 31

11 p.m. Holy Mass in English

January 1
10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in English

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in English

January 6

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in English

10. St. James Terra Sancta Church
Beit Hanina, Nablus Road
Tel. 585.1477

December 24
7 p.m. Solemn High Mass and Procession in Arabic

December 25

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

December 31
5 p.m. Thanksgiving Holy Mass in Arabic

January 1

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

January 6
10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

11. St. Saviour’s Parish Church
New Gate
Tel. 626.6605
st. saviour's church, jerusalem

December 24
7:30 p.m. Solemn High Mass in arabic and Latin

December 25

7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Latin

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 31

5 p.m. Thanksgiving Holy Mass in Arabic and Latin

January 1
9 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

January 6

7:30 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

9 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

12. St. Stephen’s Basilica (Ecole Biblique)
Nablus Road 6
Tel. 626.4468

December 24
9:30 p.m. Holy Night Mass (including the Office of Vigils) in French

December 25
11:30 a.m. Christmas Solemn Mass in French

December 26
10:30 a.m. Solemn Mass of St. Stephen Protomartyr in French

13. St. Thomas Catholic Vicariate
Chaldean Street 6
Tel. 628.2657

December 25
10 a.m. Holy Mass in Assyrian and Arabic

JERUSALEM

OTHER DENOMINATIONS

1. Anglican Cathedral of St. George
20 Nablus Road
Tel. 627.1670, www.j-diocese.org

December 24

4 p.m. Carol Service in the Shepherds Field (YMCA) of Beit Sahour in Arabic and English

7 p.m. Busses depart from the Cathedral in Jerusalem for Bethlehem. (Reservations required. Deadline for reservations is Dec. 19. Contact the Cathedral at the above phone number for details.)

9 p.m. Service of Lessons & Carols in the Nativity Church of Bethlehem in Arabic and English

Busses return to Jerusalem following the service.

11:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist “Midnight Mass” for the feast of the Nativity at the Cathedral, Jerusalem in Arabic and English

December 25

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Christmas Day in English

10 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Christmas Day in Arabic and English

6 p.m. Evening Prayer in English

December 26
7 a.m. Holy Eucharist, St. Stephen’s Day in English

11 a.m. Holy Eucharist in English

2. Christ Church
Jaffa Gatechrist church, old city, anglican
Tel. 627.7727/9

December 24

7 p.m. Christmas Carols in the Church

10:30 p.m. Nine Lessons and Carols with Eucharist

 

December 25

10:30 a.m. Family Christmas Service with Eucharist

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 31

11 p.m. New Year’s Eve Service with Eucharist

3. Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Old City, Muristan Road
Tel. 626.6800

December 24
5 p.m. International Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem

10:30 p.m. Christmette in the Redeemer Church in Jerusalem

December 25
10:30 a.m. Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

December 31

7 p.m. New Year’s Eve Service in the Redeemer Church

January 1
10:30 a.m. New Year’s Service

4. Church of the Ascension
Augusta Victoria Compound, Mount of Olives
Tel. 628.

December 26

4 p.m. Christmas Carols

January 7
6 p.m. Abendmahlsgottesdienst zu Epiphanias in German

5. St. Andrew’s Scottish Memorial Church
1 David Remez Street
Tel. 673.2401

December 24
11:15 p.m. Christmas Watchnight Service in English

December 25

10:15 a.m. Christmas Communion Service in English

6. The Danish Lutheran Church, the Danish Israel Mission
Bar Kochba Street 91/5
Tel. 532.4254, 054.442.3154 (Pastor Jakob Wilms Niesen)

December 4

Advent service in St John’s chapel Redeemer Church

December 21

Guided tour to Bethlehem

December 24
2 p.m. Julegudstjeneste i Sct. John’s Chapel in Danish

7. Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission

Shivtei Israel Street 25
Tel. 628.8631

December 3

3 p.m. Worship Service in Finnish

December 14
6 p.m. Christmas Carols in Finnish

December 24
10 a.m. Christmas Worship in Finnish

January 7
3 p.m. Worship Service in Finnish

8. Jerusalem Baptist Church
Narkis Street 4
Tel. 624.8749, 050-8193060

Dec 18
10:45 a.m. Christmas Service

9. YMCA West Jerusalem
ymca, jerusalem, christmasKing David Street 26
Tel. 569.2692

December 11
Christmas tree decoration

December 24
Christmas Eve Family Carol Service in English

 

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

10. Swedish Theological Institute
Prophets’ Street 58
Tel. 625.3822

December 25
6 p.m. Juldagen Christmas Day in Swedish

January 1
6 p.m. New Year’s Day in Swedish

11. YMCA East Jerusalem
Nablus Road 29
Tel. 628.6888

December 24
4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service at Y.M.C.A. Shepherds’ Fields, Beit Sahour in English. Buses will leave from East Jerusalem YMCA at 3:30 p.m. Cost: $7 per person. Last day to register is December 22.

BETHLEHEM

ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

1. St. Catherine

church of the nativity, bethlehemJanuary 6

8:30 a.m. The Syrian Archbishop arrives at Manger Square

10 a.m. The Coptic Archbishop arrives at Manger Square

11 a.m. The Greek Patriarch arrives at Manger Square

1 p.m. Syrian first Liturgy and Exaltation of the Holy Cross in The Grotto

2:30 p.m. Coptic Vespers

3 p.m. Syrian Vespers

10:30 p.m. Greek Matins

Photo: Travelujah

10:40 p.m. Syrian Midnight and morning official Order Prayers

11 p.m. Coptic Midnight and morning official Order Prayers

Midnight Greek Service, ends at 3.30 am

January 7

2 to 5 a.m. High Liturgy and the Second Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Grotto

2. Romanian Church

Tel. 626.3034

The Romanian Church participates in all liturgies and prayers of the Greek Orthodox Church.

3. Ethiopian Monastery of Peace-Church of Eyesus

Milk Grotto Street

Tel. 628.2848

January 6

3 p.m. Arrival at the Manger Square and procession to the Church of Eyesus

4 p.m. Vespers till 5 p.m.

8:45 p.m. Bells, prayers and veneration of the Icons

9:50 p.m. Laudes (Mahlet)

Midnight Liturgy (Kidassie)

January 7

6 a.m. Dispersal or completion of the Festivity

4. Armenian Church

Basilica of the Nativity
Manger Square
Tel. 274.2410

January 18

11 a.m. Arrival of the Armenian Patriarch at Manger Square

2 p.m. Entry in the Basilica of Nativity – Vespers and Christmas Eve Mass

10 p.m. Armenian Midnight Service, ends at 1 a.m.

January 19 (Feast of Epiphany starts)

1 to 6 a.m. Blessing of the Holy Water & Episcopal High Mass in the Grotto

JERUSALEM

ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONgreek chapel, holy sepulchre, jerusalem

1. Greek Church

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, Tel. 6284202, Fax: 6282048

January 6

11 p.m. Midnight Service

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

2. Romanian Church
Shivtei Israel Street 46
Tel. 626.3034

January 6

7 p.m. Vespers

January 7-9

8:30 a.m. Holy Liturgy

3. Russian Church St. Mary Magdalene
Gethsemane
Tel. 628.4371

January 6

10 a.m. Vespers, Liturgy of St. Basil

5 p.m. Vigil Service

January 7

8 a.m. Divine Liturgy

4:30 p.m. Vespers

January 8

7 a.m. Divine Liturgy

4. Russian Church (Moscow Mission)
Russian Compound, Kheshin Street
Tel. 625.2565

January 6

5 p.m. Vespers at Holy Trinity Cathedral

January 7
Midnight – Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral

5. St. James Cathedral
st. james, armenian quarter, jerusalemArmenian Orthodox Patriarchate Road
Tel. 628.2331

January 18

1 p.m. Eve of the Nativity at Holy Sepulchre

January 25

3 p.m. Vespers at St. James Cathedral

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

January 26

8:30 a.m. High Mass at Holy Sepulchre

How to Get Tickets for Masses

 

To attend midnight mass in Bethlehem you must submit a written request with the names of all the participants, nationality, denomination (Catholic, Protestant, etc.), and passport number to fpo@cicts.org, or by fax to 011-972-2-6286417.

Please note that there is always significantly more demand for tickets than availability. Therefore you must contact the Franciscan Pilgrims Office (Tel. 02-6272697) two weeks before Christmas to inquire whether tickets are available.

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