Tens of thousands of Christians have been viewing webcasts of the holy sites of Jerusalem using the free service IPrayTV since it was launched four months ago.

Aimed at connecting Christians with Israel spiritually and physically, IPrayTV was launched by Mike Peros to coincide with the Feast of the Tabernacles/Succot. Since then 30,000 people have viewed the webcasts.

The site rose to fame after its live webcast of Christmas in Bethlehem and has since gained the attention of Christians from many denominations as well as some people of other faiths. Peros said that most viewers were evangelical Christians.

According to the website, the ministry is the only provider of Internet broadcast services to faith-based organisations linking ministries to the holy sites through simulcast and live video streaming.

The site offers live webcasts of nine locations in the Holy Land, such as the Mount of Olives. It is also hoping to start new live video streams of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb before Easter.

Peros said, "Jerusalem, according to scriptures, is at the center of the universe. It is important for people to see the very origin of Western civilisation based on the Bible," reports the Jerusalem Post.

"Our goal is to expand this service even further so that millions of people from around the world pray for the peace of Jerusalem at the same time."