MIDDLE EAST: Hundreds of Christians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem hold Easter procession re-enacting the funeral of Jesus
Record ID:
862490
MIDDLE EAST: Hundreds of Christians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem hold Easter procession re-enacting the funeral of Jesus
- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Hundreds of Christians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem hold Easter procession re-enacting the funeral of Jesus
- Date: 7th April 2012
- Summary: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (APRIL 6, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHURCH OF NATIVITY, REVERED BY CHRISTIANS AS THE BIRTH PLACE OF JESUS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) REEM HANDAL, MEMBER OF NATIVITY CHURCH CHOIR, SAYING: "It is the Good Friday because Jesus was crucified at the cross on the mountain between two theives, so he was crucified and buried at the same day." VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS INSIDE CHURCH WOOD CROSS CLERGYMEN AT PROCESSION MORE OF WORSHIPERS AT CHURCH VARIOUS FATHER MARWAN DEEDIES AT PROCESSION MORE WORSHIPERS AT CHURCH
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem, West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAA4RUTLDC0LZQZ97O8UCEJHH76
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hundreds of Christian worshippers participated in a procession ceremony in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and in the Holy Sepulchre church of Jerusalem on Easter Friday (April 6).
Christian worshippers in the West Bank city of Bethlehem held a re-enactment of Jesus funeral inside the Church of Nativity, revered as his birth place.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem's Old City, is believed to be built at the place of Jesus Christ's Crucifixion, burial and Resurrection.
In the ceremony, clergy carried a casket, containing icon of Jesus that was brought down from the cross, wrapped in linen and covered in flowers symbolising the tomb in which Jesus was buried after his crucifixion. The church officials than carried the casket around the church yard three times.
Easter festival begins on Good Friday with a procession through the Via Dolorosa, a path marking the last hours in Jesus' life, to the church.
On Easter Saturday, known as Holy Saturday, Orthodox worshippers participate in the Holy Fire ceremony. At exactly 2pm local time, a sun beam shining on Jesus' tomb is believed to light a candle, and clergy in the tomb structure come out and distribute the flame from candle to candle among the worshippers. In past centuries, worshippers were expected to bring the flame back to their villages around Russia and Eastern Europe.
The Easter holiday culminates on Easter Sunday when Christians believe Jesus rises from the dead, three days after being crucified. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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