Berlin - The so-called Peace Light from the town of Bethlehem -
the place of Jesus Christ's birth in the Bible - arrived in Germany
on Sunday.
Scouts brought the flame from the Austrian capital Vienna to various
German cities, where it was used to light candles and thereby pass on
the light of peace.
One of the places that received the light was the Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church in Berlin, where one year ago failed Tunisian asylum
seeker Anis Amri ploughed a truck into visitors to a Christmas
market, killing 12 and injuring dozens of others.
The light was received into the church during a service on Sunday as
a sign against terrorism and violence.
It was carried around the booths of the market that surrounds the
landmark church - a reminder of the destruction of World War II - to
remember the victims of the December 19, 2016, attack.
The light from Bethlehem, now located in the West Bank in the
Palestinian Territories, is considered a symbol of hope and peace at
Christmas time.
The candles are lit from others in Bethlehem's Grotto of the
Nativity, believed to mark where Jesus was born, and are transported
in secure holders by aeroplane and train to locations all over
Europe.
The scouts have been involved in the distribution of the Peace Light
since 1986.
Private individuals are able to light their own candles from the
peace lights in various churches around Europe.