Jerusalem celebrates Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church

The Nusseibehs are an ancient Jerusalem Muslim family, who date back to the time of the Prophet Mohammed. They hold the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Two hours after sunset each night, they lock the monks inside the Church and let them out before dawn each morning - as their ancestors have for hundreds of years.

Wajih Nusseibeh is the current Door Keeper and Custodian of the Church.

"It's a job handed down from father to son, since the time of the first Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the seventh century," he told Deutsche Welle. "We have done it for 1,300 years, though there was one gap of 88 years, when the Christian Crusaders ruled Jerusalem during the 12th century."

For more: Jerusalem celebrates Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church | World | Deutsche Welle | 24.12.2011