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Christians Around The World Celebrate Holy Week

Published April 3rd, 2021 - 05:30 GMT

In some traditions of Christianity, Holy Week is the most sacred week in the Church year is the last week of Lent. In Eastern Rite Churches, also known as Eastern Orthodox, Holy Week occurs the week after Lazarus Saturday. 

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and continues until Easter Sunday. It celebrates the Paschal Mystery, the passion and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and his victorious resurrection, his triumph over sin and death, and his glorification by his Father.

The week immediately preceding Easter or Resurrection Sunday.  It is observed in many Christian churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship. While some church traditions focus specifically on the events of the last week of Jesus’ life, many of the liturgies symbolize larger themes that marked Jesus’ entire ministry. Observances during this week range from daily liturgical services in churches to informal meetings in homes to participate in a Christian version of the Passover Seder.

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Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C) holds a prayer during a Palm Sunday

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C) holds a prayer during a Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, on March 28, 2021. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

A catholic faithful holding her dog attends the traditional Palm Sunday

A catholic faithful holding her dog attends the traditional Palm Sunday mass which marks the beginning of Holy Week, at the Belen Church in Medellin, amid the COVID 19 pandemic, on March 28, 2021. JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP

Christian worshippers, monks, and friars walk in procession around the Edicule, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ

Christian worshippers, monks, and friars walk in procession around the Edicule, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ, during a mass to commemorate the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, on April 1, 2021. Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday is the Christian day falling before Easter which commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the apostles. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross walk inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,

Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross walk inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, during a Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) in Jerusalem's Old City on April 2, 2021. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit carries the holy cross at the Way of the Cross ceremony during the Good Friday as part of the Holy Week

Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit carries the holy cross at the Way of the Cross ceremony during the Good Friday as part of the Holy Week celebrations, from the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris on April 2, 2021. THOMAS COEX / AFP

A Catholic devotee wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease

A Catholic devotee wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, attends a Holy Week celebration on Good Friday, at Bolivar square in Bogota on April 2, 2021. Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP

Catholic faithful reenact the Way of the Cross during Good Friday in Capiata

Catholic faithful reenact the Way of the Cross during Good Friday in Capiata, 30 km north of Asuncion, on April 2, 2021. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP

An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday

An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday procession is carried out without spectators and strict sanitary measures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Pedro PARDO / AFP

An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City

An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday procession is carried out without spectators and strict sanitary measures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C) holds a prayer during a Palm Sunday
A catholic faithful holding her dog attends the traditional Palm Sunday
Christian worshippers, monks, and friars walk in procession around the Edicule, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ
Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross walk inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit carries the holy cross at the Way of the Cross ceremony during the Good Friday as part of the Holy Week
A Catholic devotee wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease
Catholic faithful reenact the Way of the Cross during Good Friday in Capiata
An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday
An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C) holds a prayer during a Palm Sunday
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C) holds a prayer during a Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, on March 28, 2021. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
A catholic faithful holding her dog attends the traditional Palm Sunday
A catholic faithful holding her dog attends the traditional Palm Sunday mass which marks the beginning of Holy Week, at the Belen Church in Medellin, amid the COVID 19 pandemic, on March 28, 2021. JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP
Christian worshippers, monks, and friars walk in procession around the Edicule, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ
Christian worshippers, monks, and friars walk in procession around the Edicule, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ, during a mass to commemorate the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, on April 1, 2021. Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday is the Christian day falling before Easter which commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the apostles. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross walk inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross walk inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, during a Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) in Jerusalem's Old City on April 2, 2021. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit carries the holy cross at the Way of the Cross ceremony during the Good Friday as part of the Holy Week
Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit carries the holy cross at the Way of the Cross ceremony during the Good Friday as part of the Holy Week celebrations, from the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris on April 2, 2021. THOMAS COEX / AFP
A Catholic devotee wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease
A Catholic devotee wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, attends a Holy Week celebration on Good Friday, at Bolivar square in Bogota on April 2, 2021. Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP
Catholic faithful reenact the Way of the Cross during Good Friday in Capiata
Catholic faithful reenact the Way of the Cross during Good Friday in Capiata, 30 km north of Asuncion, on April 2, 2021. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday
An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday procession is carried out without spectators and strict sanitary measures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Pedro PARDO / AFP
An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City
An actor reenacts the Passion of the Christ in Iztapalapa neighbourhood in eastern Mexico City on April 2, 2021, as the Holy Week Good Friday procession is carried out without spectators and strict sanitary measures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Tags:Holy WeekHoly JerusalemEasterPalm Sunday

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