(AP) - Christmas has returned to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.
Eastern Orthodox Christians, who worship according to the ancient Julian calendar, gathered to worship Monday, two weeks after the Christmas observed by Protestants and Roman Catholics.
Black-robed pilgrims lined up in the ancient church for a chance to descend to the grotto that's believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
The Orthodox Christmas observances coincided with preparations for this week's visit by President Bush. Bethlehem is on the president's itinerary, and U.S. security officers checked out the Church of the Nativity as pilgrims prayed there.
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