This post is long overdue. (Like most of my papers here.) However, since Easter is my most favorite holiday, I felt it was necessary to update you all on my holiday festivities. In J-town there are lots of festive events to attend during "holy week." Its tradition to participate in a huge procession down the Mt. of Olives on Palm Sunday, waving palm branches and getting ripped off by the locals to purchase one for way too much money... or to walk along the Via Dolarosa on Good Friday morning with groups from all over the world carrying crosses along the way. However this year, I decided to do neither; one because I forgot it was Palm Sunday until the procession was over, and two, its sort of crazy with all of the people there...a "belagon" as Israeli's say, and not particularly a "holy" experience for me. But I participated two years ago and for some, these events are crucial elemtents of a proper "pilgrimage" to the land. I did however get my body out of bed on Easter morning, at 4:30 so that I could trek up the Mount of Olives for a sunrise service overlooking Bethlehem and the small Arab villages just to the east of Jerusalem. The service was really lovely, conducted by the local Lutheran congregation from the Church of the Redeemer.
After having breakfast on top of the mountain, I decided to hit up the Resurrection Service at the Garden Tomb. This is the place the Protestant churches here support as being the site of the resurrection...although a Protestant, I must admit it's not where I believe the miraculous events took place, but I'll give them credit that there's a beautiful garden there. And look, it is indeed EMPTY! This photo was when the pastor said, "He is risen" and everyone responds with "He is risen indeed!" I'm a cheeze ball, but that's my favorite part!
Following the service my roommates and I had friends over for Easter dinner and we even had a cake decorated like an Easter Egg...just to keep the ole commercialized part of the holiday alive. No bunny visited our house this year :( And I unfortunately did not get to blow up any Peeps in the microwave (cuz we don't have one) this year. It's a tradition of mine that will have to wait until next year, when the billowy creatures of sugar and and fluff come out of their hiding places to once again decorate the shelves of the grocery stores. Ooohh how I love Easter.

I should have clarified before, but these previously mentioned events were of the "western" Easter that I participated in. The following week was the Orthodox Easter (they have a different calendar). And because I'm taking a class this semester on the Eastern Orthodox churches, I wanted to participate in their events as well. I was fortunate enough to make a new friend over the week, Father Goosan. He is a father for the local Armenian church, and I was fortunate to visit with him a couple of times. He invited me and a few of my friends to attend a beautful service on Maundy Thursday that was called a "Footwashing service." I wish I would have brought my camera along because it was one of the most beautiful services I have seen. There were many dignitaries present from the Orthodox churches and I believe a Catholic Cardinal was also in attendance. The service had beautiful music and insense to set the solomn mood. But my favorite part was when the Armenian Patriarch, dressed in his elaborate clothing and looking like a king, bowed down before the many bishops present, and humbly washed their feet. I love that a man, dressed in all his glory, with all his respect, would reenact the beautiful humility that Jesus himself displayed, when he, the king of the universe, God, bowed before a bunch of Jewish kids, and wash the dust off their dirty feet...

This beautiful service with the Armenians was only the beginning of many other processions, services, and worship-filled moments to follow in the next few days. I was fortunate enough to receive three tickets from my Armenian friend, Father Goosan, so that my friends who had never attended the Holy Fire ceremony could witness this beautiful event. Unfortunately for them, the crowd was so unbelievably big and insane this year, that they were blocked off by soldiers and security gaurds a few hundred meters from the Holy Seplucure and unable to attend. I was fortunate enough to catch the Ethiopian version of the Holy Fire ceremony which took place on that Saturday evening on the roof of the Holy Seplucure. I love the ceremony because it selfishly gives me a chance to take some great pictures and I happen to think that the Ethiopian community is one of the most beautiful peoples I have ever seen. (pic of Via Dolarosa on Good Friday)
So, I guess that pretty much wraps up my Easter holiday. Perhaps next year I will be able to participate in other unique events. I still want to catch the Samaritan sacrifice that happens on Good Friday on Mt. Gerazim. A friend of mine attended and said it as amazing....bloody, but amazing. As our Jewish friends say, "next year in Jerusalem!"