I arrived in the Holy Land early on the morning of Palm Sunday, April 12th, 1987. A Shurut ride from Ben Gurion airport brought me to St. George's College in time for the beginning of the 8 a.m. celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral. After that, I joined a group from the Cathedral and College and walked in the annual Palm Sunday procession from Bethphage, the home of Lazarus, to the Church of the Holy Seplucher. There were over 5,000 Christian pilgrims who took part in this walk. Easter was extra special that year as the date of Easter for both the Eastern and Western calendars coincided. The city was crowded with visitors from around the world, but in particular with pilgrims from Crete and Cyprus.
A view of the Palm Sunday procession as it crossed the top of the Mount of Olives, en route to the Old City of Jerusalem. Many participants carried palm branches and crosses, and sang hymns and songs of praise during the walk.
A view of the Old City of Jerusalem from the western slope of the Mount of Olives, during the Palm Sunday procession.
The Palm Sunday procession as it crossed the Kidron Valley which separates the Mount of Olives from the Old City of Jerusalem.
In the background are the Church of All Nations and, higher up on the slope of the Mount of Olives, the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
The Palm Sunday procession headed to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, entering the Old City through St. Stephen's Gate (Lion's Gate).
Many tens of thousands of well-wishers and onlookers lined the route of the procession shouting encouragement, singing hymns of praise, snapping photographs, some waving palm branches.
See many excellent photographs of Christians in the Holy Land at the link below the following photograph:
A young Palestinian Christian on Palm Sunday.
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