Ruptly
"Christians gathered at the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City to mark Palm Sunday for the first time since the ceasefire took effect. Footage shows worshippers attending mass, which was led by the Archbishop of Tiberias, Alexios. The crowd can be seen lighting candles and singing hymns in the church courtyard. "This is the first time we have celebrated this feast since the ceasefire took effect in Gaza City. Yet, we still feel anxious and afraid," said Moussa Ayyad. This year, Gaza's Christian community marks Holy Week with calls for peace, as conflicts continue to engulf the Middle East amid the ongoing war in Iran and continued hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. "From Gaza, a city that has endured years of bombardment and war, we continue to send a message to all humanity through this celebration: these bloody conflicts must end," Ayyad "People need to think seriously about how to start a life based on peace and reason, and to abandon the military mindset when it comes to dialogue between human beings," he continued. Gaza is home to more than 1,000 Christians within a population of around two million. Most belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, while a smaller number are Latin Catholics. The two traditions observe Easter on different dates, reflecting the difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Christians celebrate Palm Sunday at the end of Lent, commemorating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where he was greeted with palm branches after fasting in the desert for 40 days."
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