A 128-person delegation comprised of leaders from the Pentecostal Church of God proclaimed their support for Israel and an undivided Jerusalem with a signed declaration of prayer presented to the Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sunday.

Bishop Charles Scott (left) and Mayor Nir Barkat

At a time when replacement theology and apathy are pervasive in the American church, "understanding the theology of the situation is paramount," Charles Scott, general bishop of the Pentecostal Church of God told Travelujah, the only Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land.

Scott said the declaration and the group's visit is not simply symbolic of its support for Israel, but is going to be felt through action.

"We intend this to be a juggernaut," he said.

Scott estimates that the ripple effect of this visit will reach a quarter million of the church's constituents. The goal, Scott said, is education about Israel through literature and media, and ultimately, tourism to Israel.

This is apparently the first time a denomination itself has made a public stand with I

There is a chill in the air as a winter rain sets in over the Jordan Valley. However, for Suheila, a 40 year old Christian from Tel Aviv/Jaffa and her four year old daughter Naala, it's well worth it for a chance at attending a joyous and spiritually uplifting ceremony. Suheila and Naala were two of the estimated 10,000 faithful who turned out for the Feast of Epiphany celebrations on January 18 this year along the banks of the River Jordan.

"It makes us feel holier and closer to Jesus," Suheila explains as Naala shyly turns away, wondering what all the fuss is about. "We used to go into the water to be baptized," she told Travelujah, the only Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land.. However, given the crowds that came for the festival, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, citing safety concerns had instead set up vats of water from the river where people could bathe themselves or simply wash their hands and feet.

"Pilgrims visiting on other days are allowed into the water," Lydia Weitzman, the Foreign Press Adviser for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism assured us. "The Ministry has invested millions of shekels to build a deck and to make the water safe for baptism," she continued.

On the Jordanian side of the river, a smaller area has been erected and some of the faithful there, dressed in white did brave the frigid waters for a chance to be bapt

This is an exciting time of year in the Holy Land for Christians. To celebrate Jesus' birth in the very place of His birth is a unique experience. Christmas Mass and other celebrations abound, especially in Bethlehem, the site of the Church of the Nativity. Now, locals and tourists alike are recovering from the Christmas weekend and gearing up for New Year's festivities. Israel is one of the only countries which adopted the Gregorian calendar yet does not officially recognize New Year's as a holiday, as Israel follows the Jewish calendar for celebrations and holidays. However, Christian travelers will find plenty to see and do on these holy days. (Perhaps even more so - because it is not a "vacation day" in Israel, everything is up and running!)

New Year's celebrations began long before Jesus' birth. It is said that the Babylonians - nearly 4,000 years ago - marked the occasion, though it was more likely celebrated in March, near the spring equinox. They made resolutions and promised themselves and their neighbors to be more upstanding citizens in the coming year. The Romans continued celebrating the New Year in March, until Julius Caesar officially changed the date to January 1^st. He wanted to honor the Roman god Janus; hence th

Even with a small indigenous Christian community living in the Holy Land, the winter holiday is celebrated more in Jerusalem than in any other place. Christmas comes three times a year in this corner of the world.

And for that you can thank the Armenians in Jerusalem. While Catholic and Protestant Christians celebrate on December 25, and Orthodox Christians on January 6, the Armenians in Jerusalem -- and only in Jerusalem -- celebrate Christmas on January 19, or on the eve, January 18.

History explains this puzzle. According to the St. Andrew Information Network web site, the Gregorian calendar, which has a difference of twelve days, was introduced in 1752. All Christian churches switched to the Gregorian calendar to determine the date of religious feasts except for the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, the Armenian Orthodox Christians still use the Julian calendar and, therefore, observe Christmas later. Armenians living in Armenia and any where else in the world celebrate on January 6 like other Orthodox religions.

All Christian churches originally celebrated Christmas Eve on January 6. In the fourth century, the Roman Catholic Church designated December 25 as the holiday in order to replace the pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice, while Orthodox churches stuck with January 6.

Confusing? Perhaps. But this doesn't