Holy Week around the World 2010

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The Shepherd's Guild
Holy Week around the World 2010


Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) leads the Palm Sunday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's old city on March 28, 2010. Palm Sunday marks the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion, when a cheering crowd greeted him waving palm leaves. It also marks the start of the most solemn week in the Christian calendar. Photo: GALITIBBON AFP/Getty Images A girl lights a candle dring Orthodox Palm Sunday service in the golden-domed St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia (Bulgaria) on March 28, 2010. Photograph by: DIMITAR DILKOFF, AFP/Getty Images Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria officiated at a liturgy in Sofia's Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky on March 28, when the Christian Orthodox Church observes Palm Sunday. Photo: Sofia News Agency The head of the Greek Orthodox church in Bethlehem, Bishop Theofilactos, center, holds the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Sunday, March 28, 2010. Palm Sunday marks the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion, when a cheering crowd greeted him waving palm leaves. It also marks the start of the most solemn week in the Christian calendar Photo: MUSA AL-SHAER, AFP/Getty Images / March 28, 2010 Lebanon's Greek Orthodox metropolitan bishop Elias Audi walks with members of his congregation, including children, during a Palm Sunday procession in Beirut March 28, 2010.REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON - Tags: RELIGION) Palm Sunday: The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kiril will give a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Palm Sunday, is associated with a solemn day in the life of Jesus Christ, when he rode into Jerusalem, and the whole city came out to meet him. As mentioned in the Gospel, people took off their robes and threw them on the road on which Jesus rode. His path with was strewn with palm branches and he was greeted by cries, as was usually the custom only for the king. The reason for rejoicing? A miracle that Jesus had performed in raising Lazarus from the dead. In Christian tradition the day of Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem is seen as a symbol of the future reign of God. On the last Sunday before Easter (this year it falls on April 4) in Russia it has always been a tradition to sanctify willow twigs - the first plant that comes alive after the long winter. Thus, the willow branch in Russia, replaced palm branches. Some people believe that hallowed willow cleans and drives away evil forces. Willow twigs are placed in the front corner of icons and kept for an entire year. Photo: RIA Novosti A priest prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City March 31, 2010, ahead of Easter. photo: Reuters Bulgaria marks Maundy Thursday (Veliki Chetvartak). According to the tradition, on this day Bulgarians color their Easter eggs. Photo by BGNES Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III, right, washes the foot of a priest during the Washing of the Feet ceremony outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City. Christians from around the world are in the Holy Land marking the solemn period of Easter. TARA TODRAS-WHITEHILL / AP Orthodox Christians immerse themselves in the Jordan River at a baptism ceremony, during Holy Week, at Qasr el Yahud near the West Bank town of Jericho. The site is traditionally believed by many to be the place where Jesus was baptized. photo: Ariel Schalit-AP A Christian Orthodox pilgrim prays while holding a wooden cross at a baptism ceremony, during Holy Week, at Qasr el Yahud near the West Bank town of Jericho, Wednesday, March 31, 2010. The site is traditionally believed by many to be the place where Jesus was baptized. Photo: Ariel Schalit/AP A Christian pilgrim kisses a stone at the third station of the Via Dolorosa during a Good Friday procession in Jerusalem's Old City April 2, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad A Greek Orthodox faithful walks behind an image of Jesus Christ crucified, on Good Friday at Penteli monastery in Athens April 2, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis In Bulgaria, together with Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are the holiest days in the Orthodox calendar, and are observed with great solemnity. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency A worshipper kisses a giant wooden cross during a Good Friday reenactment of Christ being taken down from the crucifix, at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, Greece on Friday, April 2, 2010. Photo: Petros Giannakouris/AP A woman passes beneath a table where the Bible is placed during the Good Friday service in the golden-domed Alexander Nevski cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria on April 2, 2010. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images) Worshippers pay homage to a giant wooden cross during a Good Friday reenactment of Christ being taken down from the crucifix, at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, on Friday, April 2, 2010. Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Easter on Sunday, April 4. (AP Photo / (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)) Christian Orthodox pilgrims hold crosses during Good Friday processions in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed to be the site of the crucifixion of Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, April 2, 2010. Christians are marking the solemn period of Easter. (AP Photo / (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)) A Bosnian Serb woman decorates eggs to be distruted during the forthcoming Orthodox Easter celebrations. BBC News