Pilgrims Celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

March 24, 2013

Millions of Christians around the world are celebrating Palm Sunday.

Christian clergy and worshipers hold palm fronds during a procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City March 24, 2013.

The sound of bells from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher wafted through the cobblestone streets of Jerusalem’s Old City, ushering in Palm Sunday and Easter Holy Week. For believers, the holiday marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey 2,000 years ago.

At Palm Sunday Mass, priests and monks in festive robes led a procession around the ancient stone tomb of Jesus, followed by pilgrims waving palm and olive branches.

Pilgrims have come from all over the world, among them, Godwin Iroha of Abia State, Nigeria.

“I feel so excited to be here because this place is significant to the Christian religion, because this is the home of Jesus Christ.”

Joanne Duvall, from the U.S. state of Georgia, says being in the place of Jesus’ triumphal entry brings the Bible to life.

“I could just imagine it being a sunny day and the palm branches waving, and to see Him riding on the donkey, to see Him coming in with the crowds cheering Him, and just being there with Him and in that crowd.”

Jerusalem will be awash with Christian and Jewish pilgrims in the coming days, as Easter Holy Week coincides with the week-long biblical feast of Passover, which begins Monday at sundown.