Pilgrims mark Good Friday in Jerusalem
Source: Agencies |
April 3, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE cobblestone alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City became moving forests of wooden crosses as Christian pilgrims and clergymen commemorated the day of Jesus' crucifixion, Good Friday.
Black-robed nuns filed past metal barriers erected by police as dozens of tourists in matching red baseball hats held up digital cameras. Some pilgrims carried elaborately carved crucifixes, while others had crude crosses made of two planks.
Good Friday rituals center on the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried before his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
While Catholics and Orthodox Christians follow different calendars, this year their Easters coincide and the churches are commemorating Good Friday together.
Watching as hundreds pressed through the narrow Jerusalem street called the Via Dolorosa -- the "Way of Suffering," tracing Jesus' final steps -- was Katy Fitzpatrick, 24, Spokane, Washington. She said the event was both "exciting" and "a little overwhelming."
"It's a little intimidating, and the riot gear is a little intimidating, too," she said of the heavy presence of green-clad Israeli police.
Around midday, an American church group performed a reenactment of Jesus' walk to his crucifixion -- including an actor who played Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a heavy cross, who was led by other actors dressed as Roman legionnaires.
Amid the crush of Christians, an ultra-Orthodox Jew in black tried to make his way along the crowded street by pressing against one of the walls. Jews are celebrating the week-long spring holiday of Passover, and thousands of Jewish pilgrims and tourists were also in the Old City.
In addition, Muslims were holding weekly Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque, located in a compound they call the Noble Sanctuary and Jews call the Temple Mount.
Black-robed nuns filed past metal barriers erected by police as dozens of tourists in matching red baseball hats held up digital cameras. Some pilgrims carried elaborately carved crucifixes, while others had crude crosses made of two planks.
Good Friday rituals center on the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried before his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
While Catholics and Orthodox Christians follow different calendars, this year their Easters coincide and the churches are commemorating Good Friday together.
Watching as hundreds pressed through the narrow Jerusalem street called the Via Dolorosa -- the "Way of Suffering," tracing Jesus' final steps -- was Katy Fitzpatrick, 24, Spokane, Washington. She said the event was both "exciting" and "a little overwhelming."
"It's a little intimidating, and the riot gear is a little intimidating, too," she said of the heavy presence of green-clad Israeli police.
Around midday, an American church group performed a reenactment of Jesus' walk to his crucifixion -- including an actor who played Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a heavy cross, who was led by other actors dressed as Roman legionnaires.
Amid the crush of Christians, an ultra-Orthodox Jew in black tried to make his way along the crowded street by pressing against one of the walls. Jews are celebrating the week-long spring holiday of Passover, and thousands of Jewish pilgrims and tourists were also in the Old City.
In addition, Muslims were holding weekly Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque, located in a compound they call the Noble Sanctuary and Jews call the Temple Mount.
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