They asked President Herzog to allow Christians to celebrate without restrictions.
"There is no justification” for limiting gatherings this year, the Patriarchate said.
Around 500 worshippers passed through the huge wooden doors of the church
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The ceremony took on new meaning in 2021, with Jerusalem finally allowing religious mass gatherings due to its successful vaccination rollout.
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"We are living in strange days. Usually at this time the Old City was full of ...pilgrims coming for Holy Week," he said after his group prayed outside the locked door of the church.