Elias Muscoby, an Arab Christian, standing next to a Christmas tree at the Christ Church coffee shop, Jerusalem Old City, December 24, 2024 (Gianluca Pacchiani/Times of Israel) ...

DAMASCUS, Syria — This Christmas morning in Syria’s capital, Christians dressed in their finest clothes, attended church and participated in the annual parade through the ancient part of the city.

Protests erupted in Christian neighborhoods of the Syrian capital Damascus after a Christmas tree was set on fire in another town by unidentified men on Monday evening.

Days before Christmas, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said two Christian women at a church compound in Gaza were killed by Israeli sniper fire.

A Christmas tree in the courtyard of the YMCA in Gaza City in December 2021. After Hamas took over Gaza, Christians began observing holidays in the privacy of their homes and churches.

The Rev. Dave Urban of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Allison Park said Orthodox Christians prepare for Christmas 40 days ahead of time with a Nativity fast.

Any other year, Christmas festivities would be in full swing in the town of Jesus’ birth. The center of that party is Manger Square, the plaza outside the Church of the Nativity.

JERUSALEM — A leading evangelical Christian leader, the Rev. Johnnie Moore, accused Hamas of pulling the plug on Christmas lights and festivities in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas this weekend. About 250 people are sheltering in the Greek Orthodox church in Gaza, and say they're too afraid to do anything but pray for peace.

For Robert Wang, observing Advent is a new Christmas tradition. In the past, his house church would hold large Christmas gatherings with around 60 first-time visitors in attendance.

People walk in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.

Families gathered at Christ Church Limestone to celebrate its 180th anniversary with an ice cream social, bake sale, and ...