The white stone streets of the Old City of Jerusalemwhich every spring overflow with pilgrims and believers of three religionsresonate today with scattered steps.
The guerra between States Joined, Israel e Iranstarted a month ago, turned the city into a ghost. sagrada of the world in one of its most transcendent weeks.
The scene remembers 2020, when the pandemic left celebrations without pilgrims.
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He Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, confirmed that the Easter celebrations in the Church of the Holy Tomb will be held behind closed doors, with only the 10 resident friars and some bishops.
The liturgies will be broadcast live for the millions of faithful who await the signal from Holy Land.
The image refers to a recent precedent. In 2020, during the pandemic due to COVID-19, Holy Sepulcher It also remained closed to the public for the first time in centuries, while liturgies were held with minimal presence of clerics.
Then, as now, Jerusalem lived a Easter week without crowds, partially transferred to the virtual realm and marked by the impossibility of making a pilgrimage to the place where tradition places the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
Israel maintains closure
Las Israeli authorities keep closed all the holy places of the Old City, from the Al Aqsa complex, to the Holy Sepulchre.
Los missiles Iranians have hit the area repeatedly: one intercepted at the beginning of March scattered shrapnel on the roof of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate; the remains of another projectile They hit a road that leads to Wailing Wall.
You may be interested: The war extinguishes the three prayers of Jerusalem
The emblematic processions of the Easter week They were not carried out either.
He Palm Sunday, which traditionally runs the route between the Mount of Olives and the Holy Sepulchre, was canceled even before police incidents linked to capacity restrictions.
The Way Painfula route of 14 stations that recalls the path of Jesus towards the crucifixion, remains practically deserted.
The most symbolic episode occurred on Palm Sundaywhen the Israeli police blocked Pizzaballa’s own access to the temple.
The incident drew condemnations from Spain, Italy, France and the United States. Netanyahu He later ordered to guarantee the Patriarch’s access, although the liturgies without an audience have already been decided.
The Easter 2026 will be marked by the absence in the city where tradition places death and Resurrection of Cristothe liturgy continues, but without crowds. Faith remains; the faithful, for now, will watch from a distance.
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