Christmas celebrated in Bethlehem

A cross is held during Christmas celebrations outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012.

Christians from the world over packed Manger Square in Bethlehem Monday to celebrate the Nativity. Devout Christians said it was a moving experience to be so close to the origins of their faith.

"It's a special feeling to be here, it's an encounter with my soul and God," said Joanne Kurczewska, a professor at Warsaw University in Poland, who was visiting Bethlehem for a second time at Christmas.

Christian worshipers visit the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, ahead of Christmas, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

Christian boys from Nigeria walk outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Christian worshiper prays at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, ahead of Christmas, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.

Christian worshipers visit the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, ahead of Christmas, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.

People walk inside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, ahead of Christmas, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.

A Catholic pilgrim touches a column inside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born.

Palestinians watch the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012.

Children look at a wooden sculpture of the baby Jesus during a ceremony in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Thursday Dec. 20, 2012. The baby Jesus is made from handmade olive wood with the length of 8.2 feet.

A boy scout drummer marches during Christmas eve celebrations in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the Biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2012.

Christian worshipers from Nigeria pray at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born.

Christian worshipers from Nigeria pray in the Grotto of the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Catholic pilgrim prays at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Catholic pilgrim looks at lit candles outside of the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Christian worshiper walks out of the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Catholic priest prays inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to Bethlehem to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A woman prays inside the Grotto where Christians believe the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, in the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus as preparations for Christmas celebrations get underway on December 21, 2012.

A Christian pilgrim reads inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to Bethlehem to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Christian girl sits near the Altar of the Nativity, believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to Bethlehem to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

Christian worshipers from Nigeria wait outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A Christian worshiper from Nigeria and her son wait to pray at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshipers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born.

A woman lights candles in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012.

Nuns and worshipers pray at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec 16. 2012. Worshipers at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity have held a special prayer for Venezuela' s president Hugo Chavez. Dozens of Christian worshipers participated in Sundays prayer at the Church built on the site where Christian tradition says Jesus was born. Chavez, who is recovering from cancer surgery in Cuba, is an outspoken critic of Israel and supporter of Palestinian independence.

Clergymen gather in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity as Christians gather for Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists flocked into the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas in the "little town" where many believe Jesus Christ was born.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, center right, attends Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Twal, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, has celebrated the United Nations' recent recognition of a Palestinian state in his annual pre-Christmas remarks.

A woman places her fingers into crucifix-shaped holes in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012.