Christians Mark Palm Sunday In Jerusalem, Retracing Jesus Entry (PHOTOS)

Catholic Church in the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal (C), leads the Palm Sunday procession holding a palm frond at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City on April 01, 2012. The ceremony is a landmark in the Roman Catholic calendar, marking the triumphant return of Christ to Jerusalem the week before his death, when a cheering crowd greeted him waving palm leaves.

JERUSALEM — Hundreds of Christian pilgrims marked Palm Sunday in the Holy Land on Sunday, holding masses and processions retracing Jesus' triumphant return to Jerusalem.

Palm Sunday marks the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, where he was greeted by cheering crowds bearing palm fronds, according to the Bible.

The day's events began with a mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – revered as the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. Several hundred worshippers and clergy lit candles and waved palm fronds in the dark, cavernous church.

"It's the holiest place in the world for Christians and it's important for me to come here at least once in my lifetime," said Etienne Chevremont, 49, a visitor from Paris who attended the Jerusalem Mass.

Visitors walked down the cobblestone alleyways of the walled Old City carrying olive branches, palm fronds and crosses.

A service was also held in Bethlehem's Nativity Church, built atop Jesus' traditional birthplace.

Later, the faithful marched from the neighboring Mount of Olives into the Old City behind a white donkey, following Jesus' traditional route from 2,000 years ago.

"For us, it is important to make this experience here, to see where Jesus has lived and to see the situation in the Holy Land," said Hans Hekrig, another pilgrim.

The day marks the start of Holy Week, which ends next Sunday with Easter. Orthodox Christians mark Palm Sunday next week.

Israel's Tourism Ministry said it expects 125,000 visitors during Holy Week and 300,000 throughout April, when Jews celebrate Passover – a 5 percent increase from last year.

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Comments

[lastwarning2earth rev14]

05:04 PM on 04/04/2012

Q. What do you get when you put paganism and christainity together ?

A. Catholisisim

Thats how you destroy something. You infiltrate it.

[garybob]

12:31 PM on 04/06/2012

You conspiracy theorists are hilarious!

[lastwarning2earth rev14]

06:43 PM on 04/06/2012

When cigerettes were called a health risk, enemys of the truth,( like you) called the whistle blowers conspiracy theorist.
I find nothing hilarious about you.

[nogods]

12:01 PM on 04/03/2012

All religions have their Holy Baloney seasons.

[ExLibNowCentrist]

06:40 PM on 04/04/2012

The Leftists will have theirs May 1.

[edwest70]

01:20 AM on 04/03/2012

Men in silly costumes feel superior.

Superman
Spiderman
The Pope
Hulk Hogan

[Asmondius]

11:21 AM on 04/03/2012

Supreme court justices.....

[ExLibNowCentrist]

06:41 PM on 04/04/2012

And women.
Code Pink?

[brooklyncitizen]

09:35 PM on 04/02/2012

I'm a Catholic. I will never go to Jerusalem as long as Israel oppresses Palestinians. I cannot.

[ExLibNowCentrist]

06:42 PM on 04/04/2012

Then there's nothing stopping you right now. Go and see for yourself. No oppression.

[notmisaacm]

08:54 PM on 04/05/2012

Italy oppresses the Roma (Gypsies), will you also boycott Rome?

[brooklyncitizen]

11:21 PM on 04/05/2012

false

[amadeus617]

02:44 PM on 04/02/2012

It's to bad this article never mentioned the limit of movement the Israeli govt places on Palestinians. Many West Bank Palestinians are not able to to Jerusalem, and churches are often attacked by West Banl settlers. Nothing is ever done, and they are never accused of a crime. To say that Isreal is a democracy isn't true, there is not true freedom for Palestinian Christians of any denomination.

[Will Storm]

06:13 PM on 04/02/2012

too true

[ExLibNowCentrist]

06:43 PM on 04/04/2012

Not true.

[Britback]

06:02 AM on 04/02/2012

Jesus the Jew would surely rise up against the colonial imperialistmuslims who already own 99.5% of th entire middle east. Yet also wish to take ownership of his beloved Israel

Remember. He only ever came ' to the Jews"

[amadeus617]

02:48 PM on 04/02/2012

It was his beloved PALESTINE, not Israel. I was called Palestine by the Roman Government. Israel was a creation of the UN in 1947.

[Britback]

02:59 PM on 04/02/2012

No it was NOT u silly silly person. It was renamed Palestine. WHEN.

CUMMON. BIG SHOT. WHEN WAS IT RENAMED

Israel was created by the UN. Wow is the UN 4000yrs old? Who know. doh!
Im waiting

[myopinion2]

03:57 PM on 04/02/2012

At the time of Jesus the country was known as Judea. The Romans changed the name only after they quashed the Jewish rebellion, which occurred after Jesus died.

[Britback]

06:15 PM on 04/03/2012

Gibby I saw your banned post

Here's the plan. Read the Bible. Don't project

And most of all please please don't put words in Jesus' mouth

[demsrsilly]

05:26 AM on 04/02/2012

Why is it ok to bash Christianity but if a person dares question anything about islam that person is considered intolerant?

[fullofmitt]

07:28 AM on 04/02/2012

Because HP allows it to happen!

[A Jew with a View]

10:58 PM on 04/02/2012

We would all do a lot better if we tried to refrain from bashing each other and instead try to understand each other.

[Taxim]

05:23 AM on 04/02/2012

Pagan roots of Easter lie in celebrating the spring equinox, for millennia an important holiday in many religions. Celebrating the beginning of spring may be among the oldest holidays in human culture. Occurring every year on March 20, 21, or 22, the spring equinox is the end of winter and beginning of spring. Biologically and culturally, it represents for northern climates the end of a “dead” season and the rebirth of life, as well as the importance of fertility and reproduction.

The earliest reference we have to a similar holiday comes to us from Babylon, 2400 BCE. The city of Ur apparently had a celebration dedicated to the moon and the spring equinox which was held some time during our months of March or April. On the spring equinox Zoroastrians continue to celebrate “No Ruz,” the new day or New Year. This date is commemorated by the last remaining Zoroastrians and probably constitutes the oldest celebration in the history of the world.

[Rosin the Bow]

08:13 AM on 04/02/2012

Tedious but less ignorant.

[Will Storm]

06:16 PM on 04/02/2012

overshadowed by the narrative of Christ and his death and resurrection.

[Abmaj7]

04:48 AM on 04/02/2012

Hosanna Hey Sanna Sanna Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna,
Hey JC, JC You're alright by me,
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

[iLdoRight]

04:29 AM on 04/02/2012

Is this any way to pretend you're a Christian ?

[INTERNET FAITH]

12:45 AM on 04/02/2012

Sorry, but all these "religious people" look very funny to the rational mind. With all their "flashy flair" and silly words. It's totally ridiculous. The INTERNET is the only entity worthy of praise. PRAISE the INTERNET.

[Mark Twaine]

09:10 AM on 04/02/2012

The pictures from Jerusalem with this article look like conservative log cabin gays are putting on their own gay pride parade.

[Fireslayer]

11:54 PM on 04/01/2012

Let us think about the Melkite Christians of Palestine who walked the walk with the historical Jesus. They want the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank ended as the draconian, brutal military rule of the occupied territories hurts them terribly. As my old buddy Kinky Friedman sagely wrote, I guess they don't make Jews like Jesus anymore. But there are many good Jewish people the world over who are supportive of them and want this criminal occupation ended now.

[A Jew with a View]

10:04 PM on 04/01/2012

I am not a Christian and I am well aware of how the Jewish people and others have suffered due to Christianity. That said, I see no reason to insult or demean or make fun of people of the Christian faith. I wish more people showed respect on these posts.

[Ellen Lincourt]

10:44 PM on 04/01/2012

I sometimes think that Huffintonpost has a religion section to provide the base of atheist a way to vent their spleen.

[A Jew with a View]

11:54 PM on 04/01/2012

Thank you for your post. One can share their beliefs without being insulting to others who hold a different views, even the views of atheists.

[nogods]

11:43 AM on 04/03/2012

I sometimes think that Huffintonpost has a religion section to provide the base of religionists a way to vent their spleen.

[fullofmitt]

12:28 AM on 04/02/2012

Uh..I am against ALL prosthelyzing religions! I'm happy being Jewish..leave me alone..and don't MAKE me practice what you believe! That's for you Muslims,Christians,and any other religions who prosthelyze!

[MIKEinNYC]

09:32 PM on 04/01/2012

It's amazing to me how mature adults can buy into this fable about some guy with super powers who could get himself whacked and then come back to life a couple of daze later.

[DearbornGuy]

09:38 PM on 04/01/2012

I don't know, maybe the 2.1 billion of us around the world ... and the millions more over the centuries... actually know more than you think.

[A Jew with a View]

09:57 PM on 04/01/2012

I understand why people don't hold to a particular religion or even believe is a supreme being. I often have doubts myself. But I don't understand the need for such people to insult those that do. It does not help build trust or understanding among people.

[DearbornGuy]

09:24 PM on 04/01/2012

Gotta admit, you religion-haters who lurk and comment all over this sites crack me up. Many of you claim those of faith are misguided or aren't willing to listen to other's thoughts, but are often the least-willing to listen to thoughts and beliefs that don't conform to your own. Is this some of "religious" experience for all of you, to come here and diss those of belief?

[nogods]

11:49 AM on 04/03/2012

Can't take criticism, can you?

[DearbornGuy]

08:43 PM on 04/03/2012

Absolutely can, and can dish it out... both to believers and non-believers. But the difference is constructive criticism vs. just out-and-out bashing those who don't "believe" what you believe. I just find it amusing that so many people who don't believe, love to come to sites that talk religion to bash those that do. Said it before and will say it again: I'm not a huge fan of tennis, but I don't go to tennis sites and tell people who love the game that they are idiots because they do...