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Empty Churches, Believing Hearts: Christians Celebrate Palm Sunday

Published April 6th, 2020 - 05:19 GMT

Palm Sunday, which is considered a major celebration in the Christian religion, marks the feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, it also refers to the beginning of the holy week. 

Moreover, in most liturgical churches, Palm Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of palm branches or the branches of other native trees representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Christ as he rode into Jerusalem. 

Christians worldwide were forced to celebrate Palm Sunday yesterday, April 5th, home amid the rise of Coronavirus epidemic as over 1 million people across the globe are infected while deaths exceeded 600,000.

 

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A woman prepares an altar at her house in Tegucigalpa on Palm Sunday on April 5, 2020, as all activities, including religious festivities during Holy Week, have been suspended under the curfew ordered by the Honduran government to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. More than 1.2 million cases, including 65,272 deaths, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the virus first emerged in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1100 GM

A woman prepares an altar at her house in Tegucigalpa on Palm Sunday on April 5, 2020, as all activities, including religious festivities during Holy Week, have been suspended under the curfew ordered by the Honduran government to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. More than 1.2 million cases, including 65,272 deaths, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the virus first emerged in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1100 GMT Sunday based on official sources. Orlando SIERRA / AFP

Father Peter Turrone leads a Palm Sunday mass to an empty church at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on April 5, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Father Peter Turrone leads a Palm Sunday mass to an empty church at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on April 5, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

A Roman Catholic priest blesses palm branches occupying church pews during Palm Sunday event in Borongan town, Eastern Samar province, central Philippines on April 5, 2020. Alren BERONIO / AFP

A Roman Catholic priest blesses palm branches occupying church pews during Palm Sunday event in Borongan town, Eastern Samar province, central Philippines on April 5, 2020. Alren BERONIO / AFP

A priest holds an incense burner during the Palm Sunday Mass on April 5, 2020, at the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. Josep LAGO / AFP

A priest holds an incense burner during the Palm Sunday Mass on April 5, 2020, at the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. Josep LAGO / AFP

Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. The health ministry said total deaths were now 12,418, the highest in the world after Italy, since the pandemic emerged in China in December. Josep LAGO / AFP

Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. The health ministry said total deaths were now 12,418, the highest in the world after Italy, since the pandemic emerged in China in December. Josep LAGO / AFP

A man stands in front of giant crosses on April 5, 2020 in the town of Achmiany, some 130 km northwest of Minsk, during Palm Sunday celebrations which mark a week before Easter. Sergei GAPON / AFP

A man stands in front of giant crosses on April 5, 2020 in the town of Achmiany, some 130 km northwest of Minsk, during Palm Sunday celebrations which mark a week before Easter. Sergei GAPON / AFP

A worshipper arrives to pray outside the closed door of the Holy Sepulchre Church on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem's Old City amid movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, on April 5 2020. Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP

A worshipper arrives to pray outside the closed door of the Holy Sepulchre Church on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem's Old City amid movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, on April 5 2020. Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP

Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Father Kennedy Mugute, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Harare, gives communion to the head of media Ronald Mapfumo (R), as he conducts a Palm Sunday mass, which is livestreamed to parishioners on Facebook, in the empty Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Harare, on April 5, 2020, on the seventh day of a lockdown in Zimbabwe. AFP

Father Kennedy Mugute, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Harare, gives communion to the head of media Ronald Mapfumo (R), as he conducts a Palm Sunday mass, which is livestreamed to parishioners on Facebook, in the empty Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Harare, on April 5, 2020, on the seventh day of a lockdown in Zimbabwe. AFP

Pope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday mass behind closed doors at St. Peter's Basilica mass on April 5, 2020 in The Vatican, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Alberto PIZZOLI / POOL / AFP

Pope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday mass behind closed doors at St. Peter's Basilica mass on April 5, 2020 in The Vatican, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Alberto PIZZOLI / POOL / AFP

A woman prepares an altar at her house in Tegucigalpa on Palm Sunday on April 5, 2020, as all activities, including religious festivities during Holy Week, have been suspended under the curfew ordered by the Honduran government to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. More than 1.2 million cases, including 65,272 deaths, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the virus first emerged in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1100 GM
Father Peter Turrone leads a Palm Sunday mass to an empty church at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on April 5, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
A Roman Catholic priest blesses palm branches occupying church pews during Palm Sunday event in Borongan town, Eastern Samar province, central Philippines on April 5, 2020. Alren BERONIO / AFP
A priest holds an incense burner during the Palm Sunday Mass on April 5, 2020, at the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. Josep LAGO / AFP
Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. The health ministry said total deaths were now 12,418, the highest in the world after Italy, since the pandemic emerged in China in December. Josep LAGO / AFP
A man stands in front of giant crosses on April 5, 2020 in the town of Achmiany, some 130 km northwest of Minsk, during Palm Sunday celebrations which mark a week before Easter. Sergei GAPON / AFP
A worshipper arrives to pray outside the closed door of the Holy Sepulchre Church on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem's Old City amid movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, on April 5 2020. Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Father Kennedy Mugute, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Harare, gives communion to the head of media Ronald Mapfumo (R), as he conducts a Palm Sunday mass, which is livestreamed to parishioners on Facebook, in the empty Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Harare, on April 5, 2020, on the seventh day of a lockdown in Zimbabwe. AFP
Pope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday mass behind closed doors at St. Peter's Basilica mass on April 5, 2020 in The Vatican, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Alberto PIZZOLI / POOL / AFP
A woman prepares an altar at her house in Tegucigalpa on Palm Sunday on April 5, 2020, as all activities, including religious festivities during Holy Week, have been suspended under the curfew ordered by the Honduran government to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. More than 1.2 million cases, including 65,272 deaths, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the virus first emerged in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1100 GM
A woman prepares an altar at her house in Tegucigalpa on Palm Sunday on April 5, 2020, as all activities, including religious festivities during Holy Week, have been suspended under the curfew ordered by the Honduran government to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. More than 1.2 million cases, including 65,272 deaths, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the virus first emerged in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1100 GMT Sunday based on official sources. Orlando SIERRA / AFP
Father Peter Turrone leads a Palm Sunday mass to an empty church at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on April 5, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Father Peter Turrone leads a Palm Sunday mass to an empty church at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on April 5, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
A Roman Catholic priest blesses palm branches occupying church pews during Palm Sunday event in Borongan town, Eastern Samar province, central Philippines on April 5, 2020. Alren BERONIO / AFP
A Roman Catholic priest blesses palm branches occupying church pews during Palm Sunday event in Borongan town, Eastern Samar province, central Philippines on April 5, 2020. Alren BERONIO / AFP
A priest holds an incense burner during the Palm Sunday Mass on April 5, 2020, at the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. Josep LAGO / AFP
A priest holds an incense burner during the Palm Sunday Mass on April 5, 2020, at the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. Josep LAGO / AFP
Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. The health ministry said total deaths were now 12,418, the highest in the world after Italy, since the pandemic emerged in China in December. Josep LAGO / AFP
Spain saw its third consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic as the country recorded another 674 fatalities today. The health ministry said total deaths were now 12,418, the highest in the world after Italy, since the pandemic emerged in China in December. Josep LAGO / AFP
A man stands in front of giant crosses on April 5, 2020 in the town of Achmiany, some 130 km northwest of Minsk, during Palm Sunday celebrations which mark a week before Easter. Sergei GAPON / AFP
A man stands in front of giant crosses on April 5, 2020 in the town of Achmiany, some 130 km northwest of Minsk, during Palm Sunday celebrations which mark a week before Easter. Sergei GAPON / AFP
A worshipper arrives to pray outside the closed door of the Holy Sepulchre Church on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem's Old City amid movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, on April 5 2020. Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP
A worshipper arrives to pray outside the closed door of the Holy Sepulchre Church on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem's Old City amid movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, on April 5 2020. Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Father Kennedy Mugute, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Harare, gives communion to the head of media Ronald Mapfumo (R), as he conducts a Palm Sunday mass, which is livestreamed to parishioners on Facebook, in the empty Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Harare, on April 5, 2020, on the seventh day of a lockdown in Zimbabwe. AFP
Father Kennedy Mugute, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Harare, gives communion to the head of media Ronald Mapfumo (R), as he conducts a Palm Sunday mass, which is livestreamed to parishioners on Facebook, in the empty Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Harare, on April 5, 2020, on the seventh day of a lockdown in Zimbabwe. AFP
Pope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday mass behind closed doors at St. Peter's Basilica mass on April 5, 2020 in The Vatican, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Alberto PIZZOLI / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday mass behind closed doors at St. Peter's Basilica mass on April 5, 2020 in The Vatican, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Alberto PIZZOLI / POOL / AFP

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