Sandstorm

Street blockaded

 The Orthodox Easter began on Saturday. But because the Basilica is not big enough to several thousand people, the police had limited each Church to 400 people each. With Greeks, Russians, Georgians, Rumanians, Ukrainians, Cypriots, Copts, Syriacs, Ethiopians and many other smaller groups, it would go well into 4000 people. But this year crowds of Greeks and Copts have come. Police blockaded the streets and people kept out were fighting. It got quite violent. But these people don't understand that it's for their own safety. The Holy Fire was supposed to descend into the Tomb and the patriarchs would bring out lighted candles to be distributed among the people. It literally spreads like wild fire and the police every year worry about the Basilica burning down and stampedes. That's why they limit the people coming in. But there's no reasoning with this people. Once the fire came "down" at 2.30pm and the people got what they wanted, everyone dispersed. Many went straight to the airport to fly back home.

Konkani Mass

I had to go to Jaffa for Mass with the Konkani people, so to avoid the street blockades which started at 6am, I had to leave my house at 5am and wait for transport. It's Saturday/Sabbath and also the last day of Pesach/Passover. So there was no public transport. Instead I had to ask a friend to drive the 69 km journey there. It was nice celebrating Mass for the Konkani people. I already know several of them from the past years. They're very well organised.

Today I simply rested. There is a horrible sandstorm blowing. Our terrace is all yellow with fine desert sand. Just walking out onto the terrace, I could breathe in sand even while wearing a mask. It was dreadful. I stayed in my room all day and kept wiping my table and shelves because every hour it would be covered with a layer of dust and sand. The sky was a sickly yellow and the sun could not be seen. I hope it'll blow away tomorrow as I must go to work.

Good Friday

Orthodox old woman

 It's Orthodox Good Friday today ... and though the Way of the Cross is a Roman tradition from the Middle Ages (though some sort of way was practiced in the early Church), today all the Orthodox Churches in Jerusalem practice it. And that makes our streets awfully crowded. I had to go to work and in our compound and all along the street there were immense crowds of copts, Ethiopics, Romanians, Greeks, Russians and other Slavic rites. Police were trying to control the crowds but they only got pushed away by feisty old ladies carrying 3 feet tall crosses. Never mess with orthodox old ladies!

Coptic Orthodox

Meantime there were clashes in the Al Aqsa Mosque early this morning. At 3am groups of youths going to the mosque were chanting slogans while Israeli police stood tensely in front of our garage. At 6am volleys of stun grenades and fireworks exploded back and forth in the mosque compound. By 7am there were videos of a huge cypress tree on fire. 

This afternoon tensions are still high. Streets are blockaded throughout the Old City and crowds of muslims are jostling with Orthodox Christians making the Way of the Cross. Security helicopters are flying overhead. I'm not sure if I can make it home today.

Birthday

 Yesterday a potential violent clash was averted thanks to the resolute police action. Extremist jews had hurriedly organised a nationalist march through the Muslim Quarter. But the police blocked the road down towards the eastern side of the City where the Gate is found. Despite some scuffles, the march was rerouted to Jaffa Gate at the other end of the City. A major clash was averted. Thank goodness, We were all very apprehensive ... those of us living in the Muslim Quarter. Still a small group managed to through and marched through the Suq (market) with flags. Arabs threw stones and soldiers accompanied them to the Wailing Wall. This morning there were still some clashes in the Al Aqsa compound as jewish groups entered it under police guard. It was relatively less violent than the previous nights. 

Patriarch with our sisters

This evening Israel closed the borders with Israel because tomorrow the Passover ends. It's a routine thing to stop crowds of palestinians coming into the Old City and potential pose a risk to the jews coming to the Wailing Wall for prayers.

Today is also the birthday of our patriarch. Being my classmate 30 years back, I sent him wishes in a message. Surprisingly he answered ... busy as he always is. We chatted a bit and I was very happy. Suffice to say that he is younger than I am. And he's patriarch archbishop while I still throw garbage out of the house. But I enjoy more freedom than he does. That's something he'll never have. 

The weather has warmed quite much ... almost 28 degrees in the afternoons everyday. But the evenings are still chilling ... around 14 degrees. Last night was chilly enough for me to turn on the heater. I'm hoping this will pass. I am tired of the cold.

Marzipan sweets

Marzipan Lamb of God

 Clashes continued the past 2 days on a lesser scale as police are trying to negotiate and lessen the tension inside the Mosque. They're really trying their best to resist from violent reaction as the police reaction has been very very restraint. I've lived here long enough to know this.  Even many muslims are fed up with a small group of muslim youths who are causing all the trouble. Their prayers are disturbed, the mosques closed and the Ramadan spirit of joy is turned to sadness. There was a video of an old muslim man yelling at the youths to stop their trouble-making but they ignored him. And by youths, I mean males and females. There's been a rise in female activists, all in their late teens, who provoke and raise the tensions. But likewise it must be said that jewish extremists are equally to blame. They insist on entering the mosque compound under police escort. Last Thursday and Friday a few even tried to kill lambs as a passover sacrifice, which the Chief Rabi has forbidden since there is no Temple or Altar.  And today the jewish extremists are threatening to lead a procession through the muslim quarter to show that they are in charge. Police have refused them permission, but the rabbis will have their way and I', sure the march will go ahead and the muslims will fight back and there'll be a terrible clash in my area. Looks like I can't go home tonight,

Full moon last night

Those infected with corona in my house are walking around, disregarding quarantine restrictions. Very very inconsiderate. And worse there are some who think they are doctors, going around advising people that it is only symptoms of a slight cold and is not dangerous. Well we have one old father who is intubated in hospital but they conveniently forget him. The travesty is worse because these law breakers are priests and professors of the Bible ... but they don't don't live it at all. Some other fathers are terrified and vexed by these smart-alecks and have locked themselves in their rooms. It's a mafia here. Yes it hap[pens even in a monastery. Among the italians.

I've photographed the annual marzipan Lamb of God and have passed it around those who have decided to stay inside their rooms to avoid infection. It pleased many and social media has made it easier to communicate when we cannot meet face to face. The Lamb of God was made by the Sisters of Ivrea where we go to celebrate Mass everyday. It's pure marzipan or almond paste so it's very sweet.  But it's a tradition. The other tradition is to eat maamoul cookies made by the arabs. They're date paste made into the crown of thorns, the sponge and the spear. I like that very much.

Riots

Easter sunrise

 Easter Sunday was anything but serene and tranquil. At 4am explosions rocked our Muslim Quarter. Police fired stun grenades and muslims fired fireworks. Shouts, screams and scurrying of feet along our street. This went on till 8am. Problems started last Friday when Jews tried to bring a lamb into the Al Aqsa compound to sacrifice for the Passover. The Chief Rabbi had strictly forbade this as there is no Temple or Altar. However extremists insists on doing this, even being paid by a group to get arrested by the police. Tensions are high. Afternoon the Imam was yelling through the PA system calling for muslims to come and protect the Mosque because Jews were entering it escorted by police. Then the PA system was cut off.

This morning was no better. 3.45am we were wakened by loud explosions very close to our house. Luckily it ended rather quickly in 40 minutes. However it shocked all of us and no one could go back to sleep. The evenings though were relatively quiet as everyone goes home to eat and then bring their family out for a walk in the warm weather.

Quiet in the evening

Infections in our house has risen to 6 persons. Still some continue to flout quarantine rules but coming out of their rooms, chatting and even going down to the refectory to get food (when there are people bringing food up to their rooms). This is the epitome of arrogance when they think they are priests and so are protected. They don't think of others whom they will infect. Already an elderly guest priest is hospitalised under oxygen because of their careless behaviour. But they will not admit it or even acknowledge that one is seriously ill. The total lack of charity goes against all that Easter is all about. 

Easter

 He is risen! He is truly risen!

Χριστός Ανέστη! Aληθώς ανέστη!)

Քրիստոս հարիավ և մերելոց! Օրհնեալ եւ Յարութիւն Քրիստոսի!

基督復活了! 他真的複活了！

المسيح قام حقاً قام

Infections

Venerating the column

 It's Holy Wednesday and the traditional veneration of the Column of the Flagellation took place this morning at the Holy Sepulchre. It's a piece of purple column that commemorates Jesus being tied to it while being flagellated by the Roman soldiers. Half of the column is today in Malta and the other half is here in the Holy Sepulchre.

At the same time there was solemn Mass at the basilica in Gethsemani ... the last lenten pilgrimage Mass before the Triduum. But with the covid virus spreading rapidly in the country, I'm avoiding crowds at all cost. In my house we now have 3 active cases, and one just out of quarantine. He was probably the cause of all the other infections as he never kept full quarantine but wandered about the corridor. The guy who brought him food was the next to be infected. It's terrible. I'm spending all day at my office in the library 1km away so I can avoid coming into contact with the community. Who knows who else is infected. I only go home to sleep.

Jewish Passover will coincide with our Good Friday so our streets will be packed with worshippers going to their respective places of worship. Police presence has heightened significantly .... also because of the recent attacks around the country. Security first. And for me, health security too. I'll have to see how to resolve the problem with the liturgies during the Triduum.