Worshippers throng to Jerusalem for Palm Sunday

Thousands of faithful descended on Jerusalem to celebrate Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week that leads up to Easter.

Society

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

10 April, 2017

Worshippers took part in the procession at the Church of the Holy Sepluchre [AFP]

Christians in Palestine and across the world are celebrating Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week that leads up to Easter.

Crowds of faithful gathered at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

Many waved palm fronds to symbolise how worshippers greeted Jesus over 2,000 years ago as he triumphantly entered Jerusalem.

Clergy and worshippers took part in the procession next to the newly restored tomb of Jesus.

A Greek team has just completed a historic renovation of the Edicule, the shrine that tradition says houses the cave where Jesus was entombed and resurrected.

More than 50 experts from the National Technical University of Athens worked to restore the monument over a period of nine months.

Following the $3.7-million renovation led by the church's three main Christian denominations, the shrine has been painstakingly restored to its former glory - including a warm reddish-yellow colouring.

The Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Roman Catholic denominations share custody of the church, but disputes between the three have led to renovations being delayed for decades.

The disputes, which on some occasions have resorted to physical violence, have been deeply entrenched, prompting leaders to abdicate the keys to the church to a Muslim family that have held on to them since the 12th century.