Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem: Catholics celebrate early Easter mass

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is a place of pilgrimage for many believers at Easter. The crowd is big. The Catholics therefore had to celebrate on Saturday morning.

For German ears, this is a very early Easter greeting uttered by Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Early on Saturday morning. But such are the rules in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

It’s a long celebration, sometimes it seems a bit improvised: A table is quickly set up next to the famous stone of anointing, on which Jesus is said to have been wrapped in the shroud. A short Easter fire burns on the table.

In front of the holy of holies, the tomb, there are exceptionally benches for the 200 or so clergy who celebrate with the patriarch. The procession through the large church is a bit bumpy. Marie-Armelle has also come. The French woman has lived in Jerusalem for a long time – it is important for her to be here:

All share the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is used by many Christian churches, not only the Catholics celebrate Good Friday and Easter here. A week later this year are the celebrations according to the Orthodox rite. Who is allowed to use the church and when has been precisely defined for decades – and sometimes fought over. That’s why Catholics stick to Saturday morning, even though Easter is celebrated later everywhere else in the world.

The Franciscans are perhaps the most important representatives of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and the patriarch is also a Franciscan monk. Brother Gregor has also been there for many years: “Well, the resurrection isn’t until tomorrow. But here, by tradition and by agreement with the other denominations, it’s already celebrated on Saturday,” he says.

“It doesn’t matter whether it was yesterday at the memorial of Jesus’ suffering on Calvary or today at the resurrection: It is the center of Christianity all over the world,” says Brother Gregor. The diversity of religions, which do not always coexist in harmony here, but largely coexist, is always impressive for him.

“The Whole World Comes Here”

A few hundred believers take part in the Easter liturgy – and many tourists also crowd into the church through the open portal.

James is barefoot on the forecourt. With a staff, long hair, beard and ancient robe, he looks a little like the one whose resurrection is being celebrated today. But James is American and has been a popular photo motif for years – on the Internet he is only called “The Jesus Guy”.

“You know, the whole world comes here. This is the original place. It’s unique. It’s very special here. That’s why Jesus chose this place,” enthuses James. “God said: This is the Holy Land.”