JERUSALEM: Catholics celebrate Holy Thursday's washing of the feet

Record ID: 863300

  • Title: JERUSALEM: Catholics celebrate Holy Thursday's washing of the feet
  • Date: 28th March 2013
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (MARCH 28, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE PROCESSION BY PRIESTS, MONKS AND ALTAR SERVERS AS THEY ENTER CHURCH MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS MASS IN PROGRESS / PERSON FILMING ON A TABLET COMPUTER PERSON PRAYING MASS IN PROGRESS MONK READING A HYMN BOOK A GROUP OF NUNS MASS IN PROGRESS LATIN PATRIARCH FUAD TWAL (WEARING GOLD VESTMENTS) CHURCH DOME / MASS IN PROGRESS MONK PRAYING BESIDE CANDLES YOUNG BOY WOMAN PRAYING VARIOUS OF THE WASHING OF THE FEET CEREMONY LATIN PATRIARCH FUAD TWAL SAT DOWN AFTER WASHING THE FEET OF MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION
  • Embargoed: 12th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACHU0YWHUD468VM35P4KB31Q07
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The Catholic congregation held on Thursday (March 28) the Easter washing of the feet ceremony at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City.
    Christian faithful filled the ancient church to celebrate mass on Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday.
    During the service, Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal washed the feet of twelve of his clergymen.
    According to Christian tradition, Jesus washed the feet of his twelve disciples prior to the Last Supper before he was crucified in a sign of his humility.
    Christian churches world-wide commemorate this event as part of Easter Holy Week celebrations.
    The ceremony is performed by the highest ranking clergyman who emulates Jesus' act.
    Thursday's mass was attended by many local Palestinian Christians, as well as pilgrims from all over the world.
    The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Christ's Crucifixion, burial and resurrection, was constructed by the Roman emperor Constantine and rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus. The church has survived fires and earthquakes.
    Because of fights over ownership of the church among the different Christian congregations: Armenians, Greeks, Copts, Roman Catholics, Ethiopians and Syrians - the church is unlocked each morning by a Muslim keyholder.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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