Due to the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that threatens the whole world, the Holy Week and Easter celebrations are being held without the participation of the congregation Last Sunday, the Feast of the Entrance of Christ Jesus to Jerusalem was celebrated with the ritual of Palm Sunday at the Catholic Church of Iskenderun.
Within the protection measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus, the Holy Week and Easter celebrations are being held in churches in Iskenderun without the participation of the congregation.
Last Sunday the Palm Sunday which means the Entrance of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, was celebrated at the Catholic Church of Iskenderun. The ritual was led by the Apostolic Vicar of Turkey, Monsignor Paolo Bizzeti. In addition to Bizzeti, father Francesco Perisi and the altar servants also attended the mass.
The ceremony began in the church yard. Here, olive branches were blessed, and then Monsignor Bizzeti and the clergy entered the church, chanting along with the olive branches in their hands. The Apostolic Vicar and Bishop Monsignor Bizzeti preached about the importance of the day, Christ’s mercy and his sufferings for us.
The ritual continued with the Bible reading on the judgment of Jesus and his crucifixion. The Catholic Community, which entered the ‘Holy Week’ after the Feast of Olive Branches, will celebrate Easter next weekend without the participation of the congregation.
(SAT-7 TÜRK / İlyas Edip Terbiyeli / İskenderun)
