MIDEAST: Churches in Bethlehem, Gaza and Jerusalem host Palm Sunday services for Orthodox Christians
Record ID:
860068
MIDEAST: Churches in Bethlehem, Gaza and Jerusalem host Palm Sunday services for Orthodox Christians
- Title: MIDEAST: Churches in Bethlehem, Gaza and Jerusalem host Palm Sunday services for Orthodox Christians
- Date: 28th April 2013
- Summary: JERUSALEM (APRIL 28, 2013) (REUTERS) INTERIOR OF CHURCH OF HOLY SEPULCHRE VARIOUS OF GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH THEOPHILOS III CARRYING CANDLES AND PRAYING WOMAN LIGHTING CANDLES VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS CARRYING PALMS DURING PRAYER BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (APRIL 28, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHURCH OF NATIVITY MAN SELLING PALMS PEOPLE ARRIVING AT CHURCH INTERIOR OF CHURCH CLERGYMAN LEADING PRAYER VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS YOUTHS WALKING WITH PALMS GAZA CITY, GAZA (APRIL 28, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN GAZA VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING PALMS INTERIOR OF CHURCH WOMAN LIGHTING CANDLES WORSHIPPERS PRAYING PALMS ON CHRISTIAN PICTURES CLERGYMEN CARRYING CANDLES VARIOUS OF PRAYER
- Embargoed: 13th May 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem, Gaza, West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA36ONJKCE06Y9B3TV00EKBIQ8H
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hundreds of Orthodox Christians attended services in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Gaza on Palm Sunday (April 28).
Celebrations on Palm Sunday, a moveable feast held on the first Sunday before Easter, mark the start of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday, the most important date in the church calendar.
According to Christian tradition, the date commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem just before his arrest and crucifixion, when followers strewed palm branches in his path.
Pilgrims from around the world joined fellow Christians living in Jerusalem for services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
Orthodox christians also gathered in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, and waved palm fronds to mark the festive event.
In Gaza, worshippers attended Palm Sunday ceremonies in the Strip's Orthodox church, one of only two churches in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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