Christian faithful mark Easter Sunday in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Thousands gather for mass at traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection, with pilgrims flooding holy city after most COVID restrictions were lifted

By AP 17 April 2022, 10:40 pm

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Orthodox Christians mark Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, in Jerusalem, April 17, 2022. (AP Photo/ Oded Balilty)

Christian worshipers gathered in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection, on Sunday to observe the Easter holiday.

Thousands of people participated in mass at the church in the historic Old City, home to holy sites to the three monotheistic faiths.

Tens of thousands have come to Jerusalem for the holidays, now that most coronavirus restrictions have been lifted.

Sunday is Easter in the Western Christian calendar, and is Palm Sunday for Eastern Orthodox Christians.

This year, the holiday coincides with the Jewish holiday of Passover as well as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan for the first time in over three decades.

Elsewhere in the Old City, Palestinian clashed with police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, after officers closed the flashpoint shrine, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, to allow Jewish visitors.