FAITH – Holy Week 2012 – Jerusalem

12, 1012 or 2012?

Christian African pilgrims await the opening of the doors to the Holy Sepulchre Church on Good Friday. Jerusalem, Israel. 6-Apr-2012.

… and many more images of devoted pilgrims HERE

 

Believers at the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Thursday – Jerusalem

Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrives at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to lead services on Holy Thursday. Jerusalem, Israel. 5-Apr-2012.

A devoted nun kisses the Stone of Unction in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Thursday. Jerusalem, Israel. 5-Apr-2012.

Sunlight flows in from a window in the ceiling of the Rotunda, above praying nuns and priests, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during services on Holy Thursday. Jerusalem, Israel. 5-Apr-2012.

A man lights candles in worship in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during services on Holy Thursday. Jerusalem, Israel. 5-Apr-2012.

A Busy Jerusalem Day…

Christians celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Coptic Chapel. Jerusalem, Israel. 1-Apr-2012.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal (C), joins priests carrying palm branches in a Palm Sunday procession at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Jerusalem, Israel. 1-Apr-2012.

A group of South Sudanese refugees protests opposite the Prime Minister’s Residence as collective protection from deportation for South Sudanese expires today. Jerusalem District Court has issued an injunction forbidding deportation before April 15th. Jerusalem, Israel. 1-Apr-2012.

A group of South Sudanese refugees protests opposite the Prime Minister’s Residence as collective protection from deportation for South Sudanese expires today. Jerusalem District Court has issued an injunction forbidding deportation before April 15th. Jerusalem, Israel. 1-Apr-2012.

Thousands take part in Palm Sunday procession ascending from Gethsemane to the Lions’ Gate, carrying palm branches, singing ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’ and accompanied by musical instruments. Jerusalem, Israel. 1-Apr-2012.

Two nuns descend from the Mount of Olives in Palm Sunday procession carrying palm branches in celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel. 1-Apr-2012.

 

And what did you do today?

 

Christians Flock The Holy Sepulchre on Ash Wednesday – Jerusalem

Thousands of Christian pilgrims and believers flock the Church of The Holy Sepulchre on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, in Western Christianity, and occurs 46 days before Easter. The Church of The Holy Sepulchre was built in the fourth century over the site of a Roman Pagan temple. It is considered one of the world’s holiest shrines to Christians, preserving the most important moments of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Nuns among the thousands of Christian pilgrims and believers flocking the Church of The Holy Sepulchre on Ash Wednesday. Jerusalem, Israel. 22-Feb-2012.

A priest draws a cross on the forehead of a believer as thousands of Christian pilgrims flock the Church of The Holy Sepulchre on Ash Wednesday. Jerusalem, Israel. 22-Feb-2012.

A woman worships in silence as thousands of Christian pilgrims and believers flock the Church of The Holy Sepulchre on Ash Wednesday. Jerusalem, Israel. 22-Feb-2012.

A woman prays silently holding a candle by the Edicule as thousands of Christian pilgrims and believers flock the Church of The Holy Sepulchre on Ash Wednesday. Jerusalem, Israel. 22-Feb-2012.

More here: Images Of My Thoughts . com

High Alert at Bab El-Amud

With threats of a 3rd Intifada getting hundreds of thousands of "Likes" on Facebook and the Palestinian Yom Al-Naqba (Day of Catastrophe) coming up on May 15th, Jerusalem Police on high alert at Bab Al-Amud Damascus Gate. Jerusalem, Israel. 13/05/2011.

A young Palestinian boy among worshipers being screened by Israel Police for Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jerusalem, Israel. 13/05/2011.

Palestinian woman at Bab Al-Amud Damascus Gate. Jerusalem, Israel. 13/05/2011.

Click the pics for details!

Faces of Believers

Christian pilgrims attend Good Friday at The Church of The Holy Sepulchre. Jerusalem, Israel. 22/04/2011.

Click the pic!

Yom Kippur, 5771

Just ahead of Yom Kippur religious Jews undergo flogging preserving ancient customs. Jerusalem, Israel. 17/09/2010

Just a few hours ahead of Yom Kippur religious Jews perform Kapparot. Jerusalem, Israel. 17/09/2010.

A young man watching a traditional butcher sacrificing hens in the Jewish tradition of Kapparot. Jerusalem, Israel. 17/09/2010.

A young girl in awe watching a traditional butcher sacrificing hens in the Jewish tradition of Kapparot. Jerusalem, Israel. 17/09/2010.

Tisha Be’Av – Mourning the Loss of The Temple

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

On the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av, Tisha Be’Av (Hebrew), Jews all over the world mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples; the First Temple built by King Solomon was destroyed by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE and the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Jews were dispersed and exiled all over the world for almost the next 2,000 years. Other tragic events are also tied to this date; God told the Children of Israel that the oldest generation would not enter the Land, the city of Betar was captured and thousands of Jews were killed in 135 CE, the Roman emperor built a pagan temple on the site of the Holy Temple and rebuilt Jerusalem as a pagan city in 136 CE, Jewish expulsion from Spain in 1492 began on Tisha Be’Av, World War I began and the beginning of the deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka death camp.

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be’Av is a day of fast, of prayer, of reflection, and of reading the Book of Lamentations. Thousands of Jews from all over Israel visit the last remnant of the Temple – The Western Wall (also called The Wailing Wall), exhibiting symbols of mourning; sitting on the ground or on low stools, not wearing leather shoes, not washing or bathing and refraining from any display of physical affection.

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

Tisha Be'Av, Jerusalem, July 2009

5769 years ago…

And God said: ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

8-April-2009, Jerusalem – Thousands gathered at the Wailing Wall before dawn awaiting sunrise to recite: “Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.”

The Blessing of the Sun, Birkat Hachamah in Hebrew, is recited in Judaism once in twenty-eight years, signifying the sun’s location at exactly that of the moment of its creation on a Wednesday morning, the fourth day of creation. The 28-year cycle was calculated in the Babylonian Talmud and it was renewed today. Adding to the excitement is the fact that today is the Eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover celebrating the exodus of the ancient Hebrews, led by Moses, from bondage in Egypt – a sun cycle began on the exact morning of exodus from Egypt somewhere between the years 1200-1500 BCE (exact date is disputed).

Much anticipation was evident among the worshippers, men, women and children assembled hours before the big moment. Then, just as the sun became visible to the east, climbing over the Wailing Wall which is the last remaining remnant of the Holy Temple, it triggered great excitement, prayer, dance and song among the crowd.

The Blessing of the Sun