Quiet weekend

Quiet market today

 2 days ago was the solemnity of Our Lady of Palestine, patron of the Holy Land. Today all the Catholic bishops of all rites concelebrated the liturgy at the church of Deir Rafat where the patronal sanctuary is ... a village parish out in the Sharon Plains. Over 1000 catholics from all over the country came to the celebration. It was a very happy event. Good to see some normality during Covid recovery. The infection rate has dropped significantly so the 3rd shot is showing positive effects. Monday sees the opening of the airport to tourists again ... those who have had 3 shots of vaccines that is.

Quiet street

The temp. has dropped significantly and the weekend market was less crowded. Tonight daylight saving ends and we wind the clock one hour back. Everything spells winter ... except the lack of rain. It's disappointing.

Today Israel bombed Syria again. Jet fighters were flying overhead this afternoon. It's a scary prospect ... sounds like the Gaza wars of the pat 2 decades. I was at Jack's Lebanese restaurant to buy some spaghetti for lunch when the jets flew overhead. People came out into the streets, looking at the sky to see what happened. Even guys from the barbershop opposite the restaurant. There were however hundreds of local jewish tourists wandering around the Old City. They couldn't care less about the jets and continued gawking at the buildings and shops, discussing among themselves which restaurant to eat their lunch.

I'm overloaded with work. Am exhausted as I've been working over 16 hours straight today. Need a good sleep this weekend if possible.

Autumn leaf

Autumn leaf

 It's midweek and the temp. keeps lowering to 12 degrees at night. I needed to turn on the heater at 4am to stop from shivering. If this continues, winter will be very cold this year. But still not a drop of rain. Let's hope for the best. We need the rain.

Tensions continue to rise in and around the Old City. I just learned from the newspapers that the arabs were rioting because a planned park was being built over a muslim cemetery to the east of the Old City and there are allegations that bones were being exhumed without proper reburial. 

The wild animals that came out during the nationwide lockdown and still roaming the streets today. Newspapers report that wild boars still roam the streets of Haifa in broad daylight with heavy traffic, and even attacking people. Not sure how the authorities will deal with that.

Also found out that Hebrew University here in Jerusalem actually offers a degree in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Rather surprising. Looks like Chinese medicine will soon be an important alternative to the western system as more and more people are wary of new pills and invasive methods of healing.

The MC sisters came today to help me clean my office as I'm too sick to do it alone. Still with dizzy spells and nausea and lost of appetite. I dread going to do the colonoscopy but I must. It's just a question of time. And talking about time, daylight saving switches on Sunday morning. I bet there'll be some people who'll get caught and come to Mass an hour later.

Sahlab

My 1st Sahlab this year

 The Minister General's visit has kept us all very busy. There were processions and meetings and discourses all through to Sunday. Now that he has returned to Rome, our Visitator General will come this week to start a one-to-one meeting with all of us, in order to vote for a new Custos or re-elect the present one plus electing a new government for the next 6 years. This preparatory stage will last 4 to 5 months before the actual Chapter (elective meeting) actually takes place. Then once this is confirmed, there will be changes to our work and residences.

On Sunday, a good and longtime friend invited me and the chinese sisters out for tea. We had sahlab - the turkish beverage served in winter. It's made from orchid root mixed with milk and rose syrup. It's a tradition for us to have sahlab as a sign that we're in winter. And it's quite cool ... afternoons are only 20 degrees and nights go down to 12 degrees. It's very humid and it feels like there'll be rain any moment though it never rains.

News locally brings lots of tense moments. Israel bombed syrian military spots but Iran sent in aircraft to intercept. Looks like a direct conflict with Iran is inevitable. Jewish settlers have continued to attack arab olive pickers, destroying trees and property while Israeli soldiers did nothing to prevent them. This yearly violence is growing worse. And in Silwan a village south of the Old City, an arab family was evicted by Israeli soldiers so that a jewish family could occupy it. Violence broke out and police are stopping arab youths in the streets and checking on their IDs to make sure they're not trouble makers. Hence there's so much tension in the air right now.

I'm easily exhausted and have not been feeling very well. I guess I should go get the colonoscopy done ... so I'll have to find someone to babysit Buddy and JJ.

Meeting

Meeting with new Min. Gen.

 Yesterday was rather busy despite me feeling ill. I had class at midday and then confessions from 4pm to 7pm. In the morning I had to go inspect a house belonging to our Custody, for renovation work. There was no lunch or dinner leftovers for me so I had to go out and buy some food for dinner. It was an exhausting day and I was very hungry. By 9pm my feet were swollen from work and I fell right to sleep when I got to bed.

And I slept till 3am, which was a good 6 hours. Rare. Then I woke to cough up all the phlegm. It took me till 6am to cough out everything. Then I had to rush off for Mass and then to a meeting with our new Minister General and his vicar. Then I had to run back home to instruct our library workers on emergency drills for earthquakes, fire and missile attacks. it's an annual drill that I conduct and I believe we're the only library in Israel to do this annually.

The weather has suddenly gone very hot again and luckily I didn't put away the portable aircon. I still have a paper to correct and an article to write so I better get started or I will not be able to enjoy my Sunday. Back to work.

Eventful

Autumn leaf

The riots yesterday were quite bad. Running battles between stone-throwing arab youths and Israeli police with stun grenades and water cannons. Today the streets smelt so bad of skunk water I vomited while walking to walk. I dread having to go back home now.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1le5d2st?fbclid=IwAR3r31NsPvvmxvlJOSuDqGx4uH6OvyCMbFYaWye_PxhSDysG3ocOZxONeww#autoplay

The Minister General has come from Rome to pay his first official visit outside Italy after his election. There's the traditional "solemn entrance" where all heads of Churches (Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant) welcome him at Jaffa Gate and then a procession to the Holy Sepulchre where he will enter the Empty Tomb to pray. I had class so I had to skip that. Tomorrow he'll be meeting students and Friday he'll come to visit our university. I have to be home for that.

The quince leaf tea was very good. It reduced the diarrhea significantly as well as the stomach cramps. But today after 36 hrs of the tea, the diarrhea is back. I'll have to find a way how to get dried quince leaves. I could ask some people in Bethlehem who grow these trees. Just hope they don't spray insecticide on it. Meantime I sprained my left ankle again. It hurts very much and I've tied a bandage around it to stop the swelling. Well such an eventful day with riots and ecclesiastical visits is great but not for sprained ankles.

Marching bands

Busy market

There's been quite alot of rioting today. Stun grenades and skunk water. Oppps there's another round of shots right now ... sounds like from the Al Aqsa compound. It's the muslim feast of Muhammad's birthday and many muslims from around the country are in the Old City to pray at the Al Aqsa mosque. Youths have decided to riot and protest around Damascus Gate and the police stepped in to disperse them. I couldn't get home from outside along the City Walls .... the clashes were just out there, so I walked through the alleys inside the City to get home, while avoiding the crowds in the main streets.

At our gate, the muslim boys and girls marching band came out in parade. I think it's the first time they're doing it. They started a bagpipe band as well and was trained by our Catholic Scouts bagpipe band. But this band didn't come out in parade ... I guess they were not prepared. Anyway it was a moment the muslims were proud of. 

Boy Marching Band

The main streets were filled hawkers selling everything. I had to cross from the alley through the junction of the 3rd Station of the Cross and Austrian Hospice, and it was filled with people and hawkers. I was afraid of catching Covid as no one was wearing a mask. While rushing through the crowd, I wobbled on a loose flagstone and twisted my left ankle. It's a little swollen and it hurts alot. I'm staying in bed now. Can't walk.

Quince leaf tea

Quince leaf tea

 There were loud explosions this afternoon ... probably from Damascus Gate area. It was too early for riots ... but then I realised it's the eve of the prophet Muhammad's birthday. The streets were packed with muslims coming from all around the country so it's no wonder some type of clash happened. I guess it'll get worse tonight. I avoided the trouble spots by walking home through the alleys within the Old City. But I couldn't avoid the crowds coming like waves, along the main road which I have to cross in order to get home. Let's see what'll happen tonight.

Yesterday one of our profs heard that I'm suffering from diarrhea so he boiled a few quince leaves and gave me the infusion to drink. It's the first time I've drank quince leaf tea. It tastes very familiar but I cannot put y finger on exactly what .... a delicate taste like in agar agar. Now we'll wait to see if the diarrhea will stop. Herbal medicines are more gentle than Imodium that I took, which caused constipation.

Sunday over

More medicine

 It was a quiet day ... which is quite unusual. No emergency calls, no extra demands and errands. I stayed home all morning cleaning my room slowly while Buddy and JJ wanted to join in everything, climbing on everything I was cleaning. It was good to spend the whole morning with them.

In the afternoon fighter jets flew over twice over the City skies. It's german fighter planes doing a fly pass to mark bilateral ties after Merkel's final visit to the country before she steps down. 

Anyway the weekend is over, and I'm glad I at least had today. Fingers crossed next Sunday will be the same.

 I'm still buying more medicines for the MC convents. They need them very much as there's a shortage in the palestinian Territories and prices are very high for those that are available. Their patients, who mostly are handicap and elderly, abandoned persons, need medicines during this change to winter. The flu is picking up and coupled with Covid, which by the way is going down rapidly due to the successful booster shot program, many people are falling ill.

I've to do a colonoscopy. The hospital called and told me I needed to do it, plus an ultrasound scan. It's worrying and I'm nervous.

Clash

Just before the clash

 It's Sabbath today. The streets in west Jerusalem are very quiet. Shops are all closed except for a couple of groceries and restaurants that don't keep Sabbath. I rather enjoyed the tranquility of Sabbath as I walked slowly to work. I was feeling weak as I hadn't eaten for fear of another bout of diarrhoea. In the arab east of the City, it was bustling. Muslims from all parts of the country come to pray at the Al Aqsa and do alot of shopping. And being Sabbath, Jews from all over the country come as tourists to the Old City, guided by jewish guides who need the job now that tourists haven't been coming for 18 months. It's the arab cafes and restaurants that are making brisk business nowadays with local tourists. Anyway everyone benefits, so I guess it works.

Last night on my way home, I walked past Damascus Gate which stinks from skunk water that the police have been shooting at arab rioters. There's been riots for over the past 5 evenings. I'm not sure why exactly. But it's been quite violent. Anyway there was a growing crowd of arab youths surrounding the road above the cavea of Damascus Gate. They were not provoking the police there, just chatting and watching the police ... waiting for the police to make the first move. It was very tense. I would have stayed on and photographed the entire clash if not for the fact that I wasn't feeling well. Maybe if I'm feeling better I might go out and watch the clash tomorrow night.

Anyway it's the weekend and I've finished my work for this week so I look forward to a relaxing Sunday. But knowing my luck ....

Of lime and calamansi

Calamansi &
limes

 The past 2 days I've been feeling weak. BP has dropped to 125, making me dizzy and legs that won't walk straight. This morning I had to rest after Mass for an hour before I could slowly walk up 1km to work. Perhaps it's because I'm not eating much ... due to the diarrhea I'm suffering. People here are laughing that there's not one illness in this world that I haven't yet have. Well despite all the pain and inconveniences, I went to Bethlehem yesterday to do some errands. Firstly I had to bring blankets to the Indian sisters who just moved into Caritas Baby Hospital. It's getting cold and they have no blankets. I also had to celebrate Mass for them as they have no priests coming to serve them on Thursdays. Then I had to rush off to M. Teresa's convent to bring winter clothes and medicine for the poor.  

Limes

There at the MC convent, Sr. Kolbe showed me at the deep corner of their garden a huge calamansi tree, hidden behind lots of lime trees. It's the elusive calamansi that I've been searching for for 20 years here. It simply does not exists and nobody eats it and it's never on sale anywhere. But the sisters have managed to plant not a shrub but a tree ... almost 1.5 meters high and full of fragrant fruit. Sr. Kolbe plucked quite a lot for me. Whenever I have problems with my diet or nausea I try to drink calamansi juice or squeeze it over my food. Those the the times when pilgrim groups would bring calamansi over for me. I've tried growing them but once it hits winter, they die. My only alternative is lime ... which is also very rare. They are on the market only 3 weeks a year. This year I've bought a kilo of it and hope it'll last me for some time. Calamansi helps raise my appetite and prevent my vomiting up food that I eat.

There's nightly clashes here at Damascus Gate, and the streets stink with skunk water. The arabs are protesting over something but I'm not sure what. Last night an arab was shot dead for hurling firebombs at Israeli soldiers. There was also a car ramming incident in the north of Jerusalem at the Qalandya checkpoint to Palestine. Violence is on the increase. It's rather scary ... winter doesn't look fun with all these.

Sick

Medicines bought yesterday

 Tuesdays are usually quiet days as I have no classes and have more time to do my personal work. However today I was stricken with severe diarrhoea ... again. And I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon. It was crippling. I didn't dare go to the pharmacy nor home as the 1km walk would be hazardous with uncontrollable diarrhoea.

The irony is yesterday I accompanied the MC sisters from Gaza (they came out to do the 3rd booster shot) to buy very badly needed medicines. The enclave is short of medicines and the sisters are for over 80 handicap children and elderly. They bought about US$1000 worth of medicines ... medicines are expensive after 18 months of Covid lockdowns. There are many malnourished children in the enclave and parents abandon them at the convent because they have no means to feed the children.

And after all that, I didn't get any medicine for myself and today I'm down with severe diarrhoea. I'll need to rest and drink lots of water. Then tomorrow starts a gruelling day ... carrying lots of winter bedding for the Indian sisters at Caritas Hospital in Bethlehem, then winter clothes to the MC sisters in Bethlehem. I'm taking Imodium right now so I hope by tomorrow morning the diarrhoea stops and I can make the journey to Bethlehem.

Bethlehem

Homemade curry
puffs

 Today my breathing has worsened. The chest pains are sharper and walking even 5 metres leave me gasping for air and blacking out. Still I managed to go to the MC convent at 6.30am for Mass, after class ended at 6am. There isn't much time in between since it takes me 20 minutes to walk 100 meters to their convent. So I had to wake up early at 3am to wash up, prepare the laundry, throw the garbage, feed the birds before starting class.

After Mass I left immediately to Bethlehem to bring two enormous luggages of clothes and beddings, plus donations and food to the MC sisters there. They were very worried that I was in hospital again and wanted to see me. Sr. Kolbe cooked my favourite curry puffs with quails eggs inside, as well as a huge tub of pansit (fried bee hoon). It's always nice to go there, as the sisters make me feel at home. However I didn't want to disturb them as they had to tube-feed a couple of patients so I went back to Jerusalem. There I had to go to the pharmacy to buy medicines for the MC sisters in Gaza who were coming to Jerusalem today. It was a lot of work, and given my health situation, I'm really not feeling well at all .... hopefully M. Teresa will see it and help me get to heaven.

Luggages of
clothes

Everyone is hopeful that Covid restrictions will be lifted soon as infection rates have fallen. Looks like the booster shot is kicking in. Over here, Green Pass means having the 3rd shot. The 1st 2 don't count anymore as it's passed 1 yr.

2,500 health workers have resigned from their work because of 26 hr working shifts. It's simply too much and their health and service are being compromised. I think the govt should re-train unemployed people to work in hospitals and health facilities in simple jobs so that nurses and doctors can concentrate on healing the sick ... not making beds, serving meals etc. They are today's heroes, but not enough appreciation is shown.

I am exhausted as I've been awake for 16 hours now. I need to sleep.

Feast

Busy market

 Today the filipino community of the Holy Land celebrated the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. They organised a Mass at the Basilica of Gethsemani presided by the Patriarch, and I heard hundreds from all over the country came to participate. The Nuncio, himself a filipino, was also present. I was invited but I didn't feel feel to stay for a 2 hr liturgy. But filipino religious sisters from many congregations came ... even those from Gaza. It was really a big event. And I was told they gave souvenirs to the chaplains, including me. I often help the communities in Jaffa, Herzliya, Netanya and Jerusalem whenever there is need. It was nice of them to remember me. 

The weather continues to be cool and humid. Sunrise is at 5.15am and sunset a little before 6pm. Days are getting shorter and night is very quick ... in a few minutes and suddenly everywhere is dark. I think this year, winter will be cold.

Much as I wanted to rest, I spent the morning at work. Inevitable. Now I have class at 9pm then another at 4pm. I will be so exhausted by 6am but I must go to the MC convent at 6.30am for Mass then to Bethlehem MC convent at 9am.  Then the MC sisters from Gaza want to meet me in order to buy medicines. I will die tomorrow. It's almost beyond my physical means.

Sunset

Sunset yesterday

 I survived the past 24 hrs. The diarrhea is slowly subsiding, the vomiting stopped. I'm even less dizzy than before. I'm just terribly sleepy though. Wish I could sleep through the whole day. I just got a call from the hospital to say I must go back to do a colonoscopy. I dread that.

From the blood test, I'm basically ok on all things. Blood sugar is 1 point above maximum but Sodium is way down ... I've been avoiding salt for a long time. Potassium is within range so that's good. I try to eat a banana twice a week to boost the potassium otherwise I get forgetful and distracted.

The weather has been fine though. Cool and not too sunny. It was down to 13 degrees last night, and today's noon temp. was 23 degrees. Heavy dew falls every early morning and the air is crisp. Sunrise and sunset are spectacular under these conditions. Spring bulbs are all putting up leaves, which is very early. I think it's due to the early cold. I take a short walk around our terrace to enjoy the sunrise and sunset. It helps me breathe better.

The mysterious fighter jets flying overhead the other day has been explained as routine exercise .... which we hardly ever have. Last night Israel bombed Syria killing two militants. Now we wait for a response.

Covid infections keep falling and the govt. is considering relaxing COvid rules. That's a relief. Though the airport is officially closed to tourists, Americans continue to come and yesterday even the first group of Bahrainis came to visit the Wailing Wall. I wonder how they got in. November 1st is the set date for foreign tourists to enter the country. It's a preparation for the Christmas crowd that everyone is expecting. Let's hope for the best.

I hope tomorrow will be a quiet restful day before the week starts. I need the rest. My weight continues to fall and I don't have the energy to handle a full week's work without some rest first.

Hospital

Catheter in hand 

Yesterday was eventful ... for lack of a better word.  I went to hospital 200km away early at 6am to avoid the highway traffic. Couldn't escape it ... there were several points along the way that were stuck with traffic. Arrived at the hospital 3 hrs later and prepared myself for an arduous morning of tests. There was the blood test showed good result. The BP was 130/84 which was good. Diabetes was under control. Sodium was too low though. Then I had to drink 1.5 litres of creatine mixed with water for the liver CT scan. It had to be taken slowly, one cup every 15 minutes. The docs, like those in Jer, wanted to know why I was losing weight yet my abdomen is bloated; constant nausea and dizziness. The scan itself was quick ... 7 minutes. I didn't have my usual claustrophobia whenever I do the scan. Maybe I was too weak. They injected some medicine into my bloodstream that caused a hot feeling in my head and neck and abdomen. 

Hospital

I didn't want to wait for the result as it was already 1pm and the taxi driver was in a hurry to return back to Jerusalem. It was another 3 hr ride home but I had very bad diarrhea, uncontrollable ... side-effect of the creatine mixture. The nurses warned me it will be like this for the next 2 days. It was so bad I had to wear adult diapers for the trip home. And having fasted for 24 hrs, I was very hungry and weak but I didn't dare to eat because of the diarrhea. It went on all night. This morning I started vomiting. Together with the diarrhea, I decided I couldn't travel 80km to another city to collect several boxes of things that had arrived from Singapore. I walked up to New Gate to inform the workers and driver to go by themselves. Then I realised I didn't take my usual daily medicines so I had to walk back 1km, after alot of vomiting along the way. Once I took my medicine back home, I had to go back up 1km but by that time I was too weak. A worker immediately went to buy some bread and isotonic drink for me as I haven't eaten in 36 hours.

Now I hope to rest and recover my strength this morning ... in the silence of my office. No calls, no messages please. I just need to rest.

Midweek

Lining up for booster shots

 The weather remains sunny and cool ... maximum 24 degrees during the day. Rather pleasant it might seem. Except that I've been quite sick. Blacking out and losing consciousness. I'm quite afraid of walking home alone because if I should faint, I'll probably crack my head on the stone pavements. Tomorrow I plan to go to the hospital, if I get transport.

I did have to go out to buy some important supplies. Asked for company to be with me in case I blacked out on the way. No one answered. That's life. You just have to survive on your own here. On my way to the shop and back, I had to pass by Municipality Square and there was a very long queue of people. Wasn't sure what it was all about so I asked and the people there told me it's for the booster Covid shot. Wow I'll tell you Israel is leading in the vaccination programme in the world. They make it available in the public, no appointments needed, no hassle. Line up, get your jab.

Israeli fighter jets have been flying overhead all afternoon. Scary. People have been asking what's happening. No answers yet ... just a lot of guesses and conspiracy theories. Maybe the newspapers will tell us something tomorrow.

School starts

Sunrise today

 My dreadful diarrhea has stopped after the pharmacy gave me some medication. But I'm still feeling very weak and dizzy all the time. Last night was particularly bad, with terrible pain in the upper right abdomen. This morning the nursing nuns told me to eat little but often as my liver is not functioning well and cannot handle a full meal. That could be the cause of the liver pain ... overworking. So I'll eat less but often and see what happens. Anyway it looks like I've a lung infection as the pain in the chest is terrible. I'm taking an antibiotic which was prescribed 3 months ago when I also had an infection. Hope it goes away soon. Breathing is so difficult and shallow.

Yesterday's outage of FB and WhatsApp was a nice surprise. I had no one asking me for this and that, no disturbance in my sleep, no calls, no messages. I hear it was traumatic for some people ... I found it serene.

School has started today with the inauguration Mass. Not sure how many classes can be held in person, as Green Pass restrictions will be heavily enforced on Thursday and many new students have not or cannot arrive. I was busy all morning with lawyers and the Human Resource department discussing a change of contract and work hours for some of our workers; then a meeting with the Finance Depart. for salaries of our workers. All that took 3 hours. It's tiring for me.

I hope to be able to sleep early tonight, with the medication to alleviate the breathing and infection. The weather has turned cool again ... now at noon it's only 20 degrees. I'm carrying a hoodie wherever I go because it could get too cold for me in the evenings. It'll make my coughing worse.

Transitus

Baldachin of St. Francis

 The past two days have been horrific. I've been having great difficulty breathing and blackout spells. Quite bad ones. Due to the lack of oxygen my body goes into spasms while I black out. I make sure I'm on a carpet and away from sharp edges of furniture so if I do blackout like the last time, I won't injure myself. Usually it gets better during the day after I've walked about and loosen the thick phlegm in my throat but the past two days were not like that at all. Maybe I have a bronchial infection because my upper chest is very painful. I'm feeling really sick with no energy and constant dizziness. I planned to go to hospital this Wednesday but I have no transport. Getting a taxi would cost 1000 shekels as it has to wait for me to bring me home. I'll have to figure how to get to Nazareth somehow ... when my headaches subsides.

Transitus of St Francis

Today is the solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi. The celebration of his passing is actually yesterday evening, called the Transitus. After solemn vespers, the account of Francis' death was read out, Ps. 140 was chanted as he requested, then his death marked by a darkened church (lights out) illumined only by the candles we held. Then the Canticle of Brother Sun was sung and the relic of St. Francis was brought out for veneration. It's always touching. I sat throughout the liturgy as I was feeling very ill.

Anyway while the rest of the Custody is celebrating, I'll be resting in bed. Hopefully this bout of illness will pass by tonight. Waiting for a miracle.

Weekend

Altar at the her-
mitage in Geth-
semane

 It's Friday, the weekend has started. And the usual high security for Fridays is in place ... especially so after yesterday's terrorist attack in the Old City. I went down to the Hermitage in Gethsemane to celebrate the closing Mass of the 8 day retreat of the MC sisters, but which also I preached and participated as my annual retreat. The police allowed to enter and leave the City Gate freely as I was a foreigner. Other arabs were stopped and searched by the police. It's Friday so many arabs from around the country come to the Al Aqsa mosque to pray.

After coming home at 10am, I felt quite sick and went to sleep. I just didn't feel well ... giddy, nausea and a little unbalanced standing up. It might have been due to the lack of sleep. I was up at 11.30pm due to the phlegm lodged in my throat and was awake till 4am. Slept till 4.30am then I started work till now 5.33pm. That's over 12 hours. I am feeling very tired. But I must catch up with my work otherwise my weekend will be spent in the office. I'm looking forward to a quiet Sunday preparing for the feast of St. Francis.

The new Nuncio to the Holy Land made his solemn entrance into the Holy Sepulchre yesterday with all the Orthodox and Catholic hierarchy. It was very grand. The 4 General Consuls of Spain, Italy, Belgium and France were also present as required by tradition since the Ottoman times. Due to Covid restrictions, many lay people could not attain. though religious communities did send representatives.