Be the first to comment!100,000 expected to have visited Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem by Sunday, a new record
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By the end of this week it is expected that 100,000 people will have visited Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem, which will be a new record.
The Nativity Village attracted a record 74,000 visitors to the 2013 edition, however by last Sunday that record had already been surpassed with 80,000 visitors recorded.
The arrival on Sunday, of the Three Magi in Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem for the traditional Adoration of the Magi, will bring this popular Nativity Village to a close.
The voyage of the Three Magi to Gozo started from Cologne in Germany today, where they had a symbolic send off from Cologne Cathedral, by the Archbishop of Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, along with a choir of over 3,000 people
The Magi have been taking part in the commemoration of the 850th anniversary since the relics of the three Magi Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar arrived in the City.
The ‘relics of the Magi’ were originally situated at Constantinople, but brought to Milan by Eustorgius I, the City’s Bishop, to whom they were entrusted by Emperor Constant in 344.
The relics of the Magi were taken from Milan by Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa and given to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel eight centuries later, in 1164. The Three Magi have since attracted a constant stream of pilgrims to Cologne.
Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem Nativity Village is organised by a committee composed of representatives from the Ministry for Gozo, the Ghajnsielem Local Council, the Parish of Our Lady of Loreto and of voluntary organisations from Ghajnsielem.
This visit by the Magi to Gozo, is made possible through the collaboration of the Ministry for Gozo, the Christmas in Gozo Committee, the Local Councils of Ghajnsielem and Mellieha with the support of the MTA. The poster was designed by Daniel Zerafa.
The Mellieha Local Council made the necessary contacts in Germany thanks to the twinning between the Councils of Mellieha and Adenau dating back to January 1996.
Sunday 4th 2015: 2.00pm – 8.00pm The Adoration of the Magi.
