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Bethlehem's Church Of Nativity Going Live Online

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2008

TAMPA - Perhaps the holiest of places to be on Christmas for Christians around the world is the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

For the millions, maybe billions, who can't make it, watching a live stream feed may be the next best thing.

"Twenty-first century gospel is what we are calling it," said Mike Peros of Pinellas Park, whose IPrayTV network is providing a live video stream of the square at the Church of the Nativity beginning Christmas Eve. The stream will include a two-hour service that will be taped and replayed throughout Christmas Day.

For Internet users, this is a first, he said.

"We came up with the concept in 1997," he said. "We had the concept, but the technology had not yet been developed. Over the past 10 years, the technology caught up."

The stream has been fine-tuned, he said, and it's ready to go. The Web site was launched two months ago.

"We've had 5,000 members come online since late October," he said. "We expect 5,000 to 50,000 people to tune in. It's worldwide. We have people signed up in Afghanistan, China, Finland, Australia, Mexico, Santo Domingo, Spain and Colombia. This has generated worldwide interest."

The stream of the Church of the Nativity square begins on Christmas Eve and will last 72 hours, he sad

"For the first time ever," states an announcement of the project, "individuals unable to make the journey in person now have access to this unique site from the comfort of their own homes and with the same ease of checking email."

Those interested in viewing the live feeds can go to www.ipraytv.com. There is no cost.

"Since the site was launched two months ago, we've seen a strong desire among believers around the world to strengthen their connection with Israel and the Holy Sites," Peros, founder and CEO of IPrayTV, says in the written announcement.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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