Orthodox Christians mark Easter in Jerusalem, Gaza

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Orthodox Christians packed into an ancient church in Jerusalem to mark Easter Sunday. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch in the Holy Land, Theofilos III, led prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. He carried an ornate staff and wore a golden crown, as chanting pilgrims and clergymen with candles joined in worship. Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrated Easter last week, but Orthodox Christians use a different calendar to mark Jesus' resurrection. According to Christian tradition, the church in Jerusalem's Old City is built on the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. Orthodox Christians all over the Holy Land marked Easter, including members of the tiny community in Gaza.