Christian pilgrims pray ahead of the Washing of the Feet ceremony inside the Chapel of St John and Baptistery, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, in Jerusalem's Old City, Thursday, April 21, 2011. (Tara Todras-Whitehill - AP) Holy Week marks Christianity’s observence of the death and resurrection of Jesus: Palm Sunday begins the week with palms that symbolize Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem,Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus’ washing of his disciples feet, Good Friday his death, and Easter Sunday Jesus’ resurrection.
Worldwide, Christians hold a variety of services and commemorations --from simple worship at house churches to Pope Benedict XVI washing the feet of 12 fellow priests to a pious (masochistic?) few who who choose to be nailed to the cross themselves.
For a primer on how the world’s billion Catholics understand the observe Holy Week, check out Busted Halo’s video embedded below.
This week, On Faith asked our panelists about the increasingly common practice of Christian churches holding Passover seders around Easter, a practice that some Jewish leaders find offensive. Do you? Weigh in here.
If you are Christian, how do you observe this holy week?
Penitents take part in the procession of the 'Cristo de la buena muerte' brotherhood, during Holy Week in Zamora, northern Spain, in the early hours of Tuesday, April 19, 2011. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week. (AP Photo/I.Lopez) (I.Lopez - AP)
By Elizabeth Tenety | 09:37 AM ET, 04/21/2011 Save & Share:
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