Jerusalem received an early Easter Miracle this week – the rebirth of religious assemblies, thanks to an aggressive vaccination launch that led to a sharp decline in COVID cases.
Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Good Friday in the Christian quarter of the old town for the procession of the Way of the Cross, where the faithful retrace the last steps of Jesus before the crucifixion.
Masked crowds were seen shoulder to shoulder, while the men carried a cross-line in the narrow corridors.
“We feel more hopeful that things will get better,” said Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa. “The message of Easter is life and love, despite all the signs of death, the crown, the pandemic, whatever it is, we believe in the power of love and life.”
Easter services were canceled last year in Jerusalem and many parts of the world at the beginning of the pandemic.
A certain sense of normalcy was restored in Israel, where more than half of the population was vaccinated.
However, there are capacity restrictions for domestic Easter services, masks are needed, and foreigners still need special permits to enter the country, making tourism difficult.
“It doesn’t seem normal,” said Hagop Karakashian, the owner of a famous pottery store in the Old Town. “Locals can celebrate, yes. But something is still missing. ”
With Post Wires