Good Friday is, of course, one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar, as it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. And Good Friday in the Holy Land means time for Christian pilgrims to throng the streets of Jerusalem’s Old City as they retrace Jesus’ final steps.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa in the Old City are important elements of this pilgrimage: the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrows) is the street that Jesus walked down bearing his cross, while the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the point of his crucifixion and resurrection.
If you’ve spent Christmas in Israel at the Old City, the raw power religion can convey may well have amazed you. Be prepared for more of the same during Good Friday, especially as you watch the throngs of pilgrims carrying crosses in the footsteps of Jesus…
And then after all that intensity, there comes Easter Saturday, complete with the Holy Fire miracle. We’re not sure we believe in it, but it’s pretty powerful stuff watching those that do…
For a taste of what to expect in the Old City on Good Friday, check out the videos below.
Happy Easter!