April 21, 2014 - Thousands of pilgrims from around the world celebrated Easter in
the Holy Land, commemorating the day when according to Christian tradition Jesus was
resurrected in Jerusalem two millennia ago. Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem
led Mass at the Holy Sepulcher church in the city on Easter Sunday. The site is where
Christians believe Jesus was buried and resurrected. In the West Bank town of Bethlehem,
worshippers prayed and lit candles at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed
to be the birthplace of Jesus.
Easter was also celebrated in Gaza where less
than three thousand Christians live among about 1.7 million Muslims. Christian communities
in the Holy Land, as well as elsewhere in the Middle East, have been declining in
recent years due to regional turmoil. (Source: AP)