Celebration of Passover and Easter in Jerusalem

Despite the violence that has engulfed the lives of residents in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the past seven months, tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world have traveled to the Holy Land to celebrate Passover and Easter. This year, Passover coincides with the Jewish holiday of Pesach, prompting Israel to implement strict security measures in recent days. Security measures are particularly noticeable in East Jerusalem, where Jewish, Christian, and Islamic holy sites, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, are located in close proximity to each other. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that for the first time in recent years, thousands of Coptic Christian pilgrims have also come to the Palestinian territories and Israel to participate in Easter celebrations. Additionally, thousands of pilgrims from Latin America and East Asia, such as the Philippines, where Christians have stronger beliefs, have traveled to the Holy Land to visit churches and Christian holy sites. This year, the Passover ceremonies are taking place while the number of Christians in the Holy Land has reached its lowest point in history. One member of the Armenian community in East Jerusalem, who is a tour guide, tells us that only six thousand Armenians remain in these territories, and another two thousand Armenians from other parts of the world volunteer to serve at the holy sites throughout the year. In response to our question, he states that there is not even one Iranian Armenian among the pilgrims or servants. Christians believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days after being crucified in Jerusalem, and after living for forty days on earth, he ascended to heaven. The Holy Week ceremonies are the last week of the forty days of fasting and repentance. These ceremonies commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, his arrest by Roman forces, his suffering until crucifixion, and his resurrection following the crucifixion. Jesus, son of Joseph, also known as Jesus of Nazareth, was born in Bethlehem to Mary; he lived in Nazareth and was tortured and crucified by the Romans during the rule of Roman governor Pontius Pilate on the charge of 'claiming to be the King of the Jews,' which was an accusation tantamount to rebellion against the Roman rulers. The 'Holy Week' in the Passover ceremonies begins with 'Palm Sunday,' commemorating the triumphant entry of Christ and his companions into Jerusalem with palm branches in hand. The 'Last Supper' of Jesus Christ and the apostles took place on 'Holy Thursday' of that week; a meal during which Christ predicted his severe punishment. 'Judas' betrayed Christ's hiding place in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Roman rulers for a small sum of money, and on 'Good Friday,' Roman soldiers arrested Christ and took him away. A heavy cross was placed on Christ's shoulders for torture, and he was forced to walk the path of suffering known as 'Via Dolorosa' in East Jerusalem, ascending from the hill of 'Golgotha' in Jerusalem. Christians mourn on 'Good Friday,' which coincides with today; they do not eat meat and honor the memory of Christ's suffering through fasting and repentance. 'Good' in Christian and Old English also means 'holy,' which is why Friday in 'Holy Week' is called 'Good Friday.' 'Holy Saturday' or 'Silent Saturday' in the Passover week recalls the day when Christ's companions prepared to lay his body to rest and mourned, but on Sunday morning, they went to the tomb; the body was gone and 'had ascended to the Lord.' This year, on the twelfth of Ordibehesht, which coincides with 'Holy Saturday,' the 'Holy Fire' ceremony will be held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in East Jerusalem; typically, conflicts arise among followers of different churches over specific sectarian biases at this location. While Christian leaders have accepted that the 'Holy Saturday' ceremonies, based on the 'Berlin Agreement' since 1878, should be held by the Greek Orthodox bishop at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in coordination with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the intense tension in the area has led Israeli police forces to maintain a significant presence at this location on this day in all previous years. Eastern churches, such as Greek Orthodox, Orthodox, and Copts, place the greatest importance on Easter, considering it even more significant than the celebration of Christ's birth. In Western churches, such as Catholic and Protestant, Easter is regarded with equal importance to the birth of Christ. Historical records indicate that the Christian Passover week has its roots in the Jewish Pesach; Pesach commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from the captivity of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt and their efforts to return to the land of Canaan. During Pesach, Jews eat unleavened bread in remembrance of the sufferings of Jacob's children, who wandered for another forty years in the desert after being freed from Pharaoh's captivity, and hold special ceremonies. This year's Pesach was ongoing over the past week and ended on the evening of Friday, the tenth of Ordibehesht.