Christians in Israel Mark Palm Sunday with Prayers and Processionals

Mara Vigevani : Mar 26, 2018
Breakingisraelnews.com

In Jerusalem, hundreds gathered with olive branches in the Old City, Mount Zion and elsewhere to symbolize the worshippers who greeted Jesus as He triumphantly entered Jerusalem before He was crucified.

(Israel)— [Breakingisraelnews.com] Christians around the country began Holy Week leading up to Easter with traditional Palm Sunday processions and Church services in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem and other Christian communities. (Photo: Christians celebrating Palm Sunday at the St. Lawrence Church in Jerusalem/Credit: Hellie Maman/TPS/via BIN)

In Jerusalem, hundreds gathered with olive branches in the Old City, Mount Zion and elsewhere to symbolize the worshippers who greeted Jesus as He triumphantly entered Jerusalem before He was crucified. According to Christian tradition, palm branches are used to mark the occasion, but because of the difficulty of obtaining palm branches in the springtime, many churches substitute other local species, such as olive.

The ceremony was eventually adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs.

"Is a blessing to have arrived here just in time for Palm Sunday," said Brother Craig Spence, 27 years old from New Orleans, a member of the Salesians order who recently arrived for a four-year program of study at the Ratisbonne Monastery in Rechavia, a short walk from the Old City...

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