Photo essay

Orthodox Christians commemorate Mary in Jerusalem religious ceremony

Procession of clergy and pilgrims walk along narrow streets of Old City holding candles and flowers from Church of the Holy Sepulchre to tomb to mark Feast of the Assumption

By ToI Staff and Agencies 26 August 2023, 1:53 am Edit
  • Christian orthodox women hold candles and flowers as they walk in a procession to bring an icon of the Virgin Mary to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, along the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, early Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Every year before the Feast of the Assumption, the icon is brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the tomb of the Virgin Mary to honor her Assumption. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
    Christian orthodox women hold candles and flowers as they walk in a procession to bring an icon of the Virgin Mary to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, along the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, early Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Every year before the Feast of the Assumption, the icon is brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the tomb of the Virgin Mary to honor her Assumption. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
  • Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
  • An Orthodox priest followed by pilgrims carries an icon of the Virgin Mary during a procession to bring the icon to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, just outside Jerusalem's Old City, early Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
    An Orthodox priest followed by pilgrims carries an icon of the Virgin Mary during a procession to bring the icon to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, just outside Jerusalem's Old City, early Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
  • Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
  • Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
  • Ethiopian nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. - Christian Orthodox clergy and pilgrims took part in the early morning procession, an annual event during which Orthodox believers carry an icon of the Virgin Mary from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Mary's Tomb Church, located on the foothills of the Mount of Olives, near Gethsemane garden, which is regarded as the burial place of Virgin, according to Christian tradition. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
    Ethiopian nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. - Christian Orthodox clergy and pilgrims took part in the early morning procession, an annual event during which Orthodox believers carry an icon of the Virgin Mary from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Mary's Tomb Church, located on the foothills of the Mount of Olives, near Gethsemane garden, which is regarded as the burial place of Virgin, according to Christian tradition. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
  • Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
  • Christian orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk in a procession to bring an icon of the Virgin Mary to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, along the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, early Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Every year before the Feast of the Assumption, the icon is brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the tomb of the Virgin Mary to honor her Assumption. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
    Christian orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk in a procession to bring an icon of the Virgin Mary to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, along the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, early Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Every year before the Feast of the Assumption, the icon is brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the tomb of the Virgin Mary to honor her Assumption. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
  • Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. - Christian Orthodox clergy and pilgrims took part in the early morning procession, an annual event during which Orthodox believers carry an icon of the Virgin Mary from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Mary's Tomb Church, located on the foothills of the Mount of Olives, near Gethsemane garden, which is regarded as the burial place of Virgin, according to Christian tradition. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. - Christian Orthodox clergy and pilgrims took part in the early morning procession, an annual event during which Orthodox believers carry an icon of the Virgin Mary from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Mary's Tomb Church, located on the foothills of the Mount of Olives, near Gethsemane garden, which is regarded as the burial place of Virgin, according to Christian tradition. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
  • Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City in a religious procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)

Christian Orthodox clergy and pilgrims took part in an early morning procession in Jerusalem on Friday to mark the Dormition of the Theotokos (literally translated as God-bearer), an annual event during which Orthodox believers carry an icon of the Virgin Mary from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City to her tomb, located on the foothills of the Mount of Olives.

The tomb is near Gethsemane garden, which is regarded as her burial place, according to Christian tradition.

The occasion marks the Feast of the Assumption, when Mary is believed to have ascended to heaven, according to Christian religion.

A procession of nuns from various Christian Orthodox communities attended the event, walking along the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City holding candles and flowers.

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