(6 Jan 2001) Natural Sound

Greek Orthodox Christians held a special procession on Saturday to honour the Orthodox Christmas holy day, held this year against a backdrop of violence that has kept many pilgrims away.

Priests gathered at the Jaffa Gate in East Jerusalem, next to the Marelias Monastery.

The march was led by two candidates for the Jerusalem Patriarchy.

A new patriarch hasn't yet been appointed since the death of the incumbent last month.
The priests, in traditional robes, marched through the old city of Jerusalem.

A motorcade then took the priests to Bethlehem.

They were escorted by Israeli police through the checkpoints around Jerusalem and into Bethlehem.

At the Gilo checkpoint, the parade crossed into the Palestinian-controlled town of Bethlehem.

At midnight, the priests will hold a Christmas mass, which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will attend.

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