Palm Sunday

The stone of Bethpage

Cold and very windy ... and it rained last night. We thought the Palm Sunday procession from Bethpage to Jerusalem (1 km up and down the  Mt. of Olives) would be wet and miserable. But by noon the sun was up and the procession got underway. It was crowded but not as previous years. Many people have avoided Jerusalem for fear of terrorists' attacks. Police were everywhere to secure the route.

I decided not to join in ... not even to St. Anne's Church (Sheeps Pool) where the procession always ends. Have been feeling so weak from exhaustion and medication ... and the chronic diarrhea. But I managed to join in the parish procession in the evening at New Gate though. Bands of bagpipers march from Notre Dame into the Old City through New Gate ... the only christian city gate. It's a once a year opportunity for christians to express their faith publicly and the local crowds were there to support ... christians from jerusalem and other parts of the country joining in. Here are some photos of the procession taken by friends.

Crowds leaving Bethpage to Jerusalem

The Passion of Christ sung at solemn
Mass in the Holy Sepulcher 

More crowds heading for Jerusalem

Franciscan friars leading the procession

Down the mt. of Olives