The Orthodox, who are preparing to celebrate the Easter Feast this weekend, celebrated the “Flower Feast” last Sunday. In some churches in Hatay and Mersin, rituals were held without the participation of the congregation, while in others, rituals were held with special permission and in accordance with the pandemic rules.
The Palm Sunday service, which is on Sunday, April 25, in Mersin Saint Gabriel and Saint Michael Greek Orthodox Church, was held on Monday, April 26 by the Father of the church, İspir Teymur.
This Holy Feast was celebrated with a liturgy held closed to the congregation and attended only by church officials. At the end of the ceremony, the tray with olive branches and the Holy Cross was blessed by Father İspir and olive branches were distributed to the visitors in the church, which was decorated with palm branches.
The Holy Mass at the Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch was held online, without the participation of the congregation. The mass at the Samandağ Azize Tekla Greek Orthodox Church was held with the limited participation of the congregation with special permission.
The ceremony in Antakya was held under the leadership of church fathers Dimitri Doğum and Can Dellüler. In this ritual in the church, which was decorated with palm branches, the priests were accompanied by sextons and church officials. Fathers Trifon Yumurta and Dimyan Yakupoğlu conducted the ceremony in Samandağ. The colorful flowers carried by the children created beautiful images in the ceremony with limited participation.
Special celebrations were also held in the Orthodox Churches of İskenderun, Altınözü and Mersin due to the Flower Feast.
Holy Week has also begun for the Orthodox community, which will celebrate Easter this weekend. The special rites to be held this week will commemorate the experiences of Jesus Christ in the last week.
In Orthodox Churches, which also start the Holy Week after the Feast of the Branches, the Projiezmeni (Pre-Consecrated Mysteries) Mass will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Holy Oil Prayer Mass will also be performed on Wednesday. On Thursday, after the ‘Great Thursday-Saint Basilios Mass’ and the Crucifixion of Christ, the Removal of Christ from the Cross and the Removal of His Body on Friday, and the Funeral Ceremony of Christ, the Easter Mass will be held on Saturday. Easter, which means the resurrection of Jesus Christ, will also be celebrated in the shadow of restrictions.
After the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic measures experienced all over the world and the curfew imposed, the magnificent images experienced in previous years are a thing of the past for this year.
Palm Sunday
In the Christian faith, the first day of Holy Week commemorates the glorious entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. In the Western tradition, this day is often called the “Palm Branches Sunday”. The heavenly kingdom of Jesus Christ is proclaimed on earth with palm branches. In the old Roman tradition, victorious commanders were greeted at the entrance of the city with palm branches symbolizing victory. Likewise, when the people of Jerusalem heard that Jesus Christ was coming to the city, they greeted Him at the main gate on the city walls, shouting, “Osanna on high, blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” The word “Osanna” means “Save O Lord” in Aramaic. The joy of children who want to watch Jesus Christ go to Jerusalem is the main element of this holiday. (SAT-7 TURK/İlyas Edip Terbiyeli, İskenderun/BT Mersin)
