National Post (National Edition)
LIVESTREAMS, BLEACHED PALM LEAVES, SOLO PROCESSIONS
How the clergy are celebrating Easter during COVID-19 pandemic
JERUSALEM • With Easter approaching, Jerusalem’s clergy are getting ready to celebrate one of the oldest traditions of Christian orthodox and Catholic religions via modern means.
Israel has imposed tight restrictions on public gatherings to curb the spread of COVID-19, on Monday barring gatherings of more than two people who are not in the same family, with few exceptions, forcing clergymen to get creative with celebrating the annual Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem.
Also known as Passion Sunday, the day narrates the biblical story of Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem before his crucifixion, with palm leaves and clothing laid in his path, replete with mass processions and sharing of palm leaves.
Unable to coordinate mass processions and Sunday masses due to the threat of the virus, faith leaders instead turned to Facebook and other social media to livestream video and audio from inside the cathedrals and churches. Some handed out palm leaves drenched in bleach to volunteers dressed in protective wear or distributed the sanitized leaves to passing cars.
“We are living in strange days. Usually at this time the Old City was full of ... pilgrims coming for Holy Week,” said Father Francesco Patton, 56, the custodian of the Holy Land for the Roman Catholic Church, responsible for protecting its sacred sites. He has urged the Israeli government to allow freedom of worship inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
It is traditional during Easter, to walk along the Via Dolorosa, a winding route from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to commemorate the journey believed to be taken by Jesus to his crucifixion and resurrection. This year, only Patton and his Franciscans walked the route, conforming with social distancing guidelines as they stopped at the 14 Stations of the Cross that marked events leading to Jesus’ burial.
When they arrived at the Sepulchre, they prayed for the sick and the dying around the world, and the medical staff treating them — as Patton’s predecessors had treated the sick in medieval times.
This Easter the route bears new bronze reliefs depicting that journey, a gift from Verona sculpted by Italian artist Alessandro Mutto. But there is no one to see them.
“Now it is a little bit sad to see that ... nobody is able to walk (it). But we know that at this moment so many people are walking a personal Via Dolorosa, when I think of those who are in the hospital and in their houses fighting with coronavirus,” Patton said.
The Holy Sepulchre lies at the heart of the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s walled Old City. Its doors were shut to the public on March 25.
The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Roman Catholic authorities who share custody of the Holy Sepulchre issued a joint statement last week saying prayers “will continue” at the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
But discussions continue about how to ensure safety and continued worship during the most important festival in the Christian calendar, which Catholics celebrate on April 12 and Greek Orthodox a week later.
These include Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the — usually — crowded Greek Orthodox ceremony of the Holy Fire, symbolizing the resurrection.
“We have to give to Caesar what is of Caesar and we have to give to God what is of God,” said Patton. “We respect what is the role and what is the duty of the public and civil power and in the same time we think that the different civil authorities have to respect what is the right of God.”
Israel has imposed a partial lockdown, with police and soldiers enforcing Ministry of Heath restrictions requiring people to stay near their homes. Religious leaders of other faiths have also taken precautions.
Islamic authorities last month suspended all Muslim prayers around Al-Aqsa Mosque on the hilltop compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
At the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews are allowed to pray in Jerusalem, up to 10 people are permitted to pray with worshippers keeping two meters apart. But the chief rabbi of the site instructed them not to kiss the stones.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said it was too early to know the arrangements for upcoming religious holidays of all religions.
“It all depends on the health regulations,” he said. “If the situation is going to be the same with no public gatherings ... nothing will be going on, not Passover, not Ramadan and not the Holy Fire ceremony. We will have to wait and see.”