Palm Sunday (Branches Sunday), which was celebrated the week before Easter (Resurrection) Festival in Izmir Santa Maria Church due to the curfew on Sundays this year, was held on Saturday, March 27.
While the celebration was led by the Archbishop of Izmir, Monsignor Martin Kmetec, the Rector of St. John’s Cathedral, the priests of Alsancak Rosario Church and Santa Maria Church accompanied the ceremony.
After the blessing of the branches at the entrance of the church, it began with the reading of the Words of Jesus Christ written by St. Mark, followed by the Holy March, symbolizing the Entry into Jerusalem.
After reading Words from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, “The Suffering and Death of Christ Jesus” by St. Mark was read together with Monsignor Martin, Nicholas the deacon, and a member of the congregation.
Then, Monsignor Martin gave his sermon in Turkish and Italian. He finished the sermon with his words: “What is the message of the Branches Sunday that we celebrate for us today? There are two aspects: Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and the Centurion’s declaration of faith; we too can achieve this through faith. But because of our weakness, human frailty, and sin, we must once again enter Jerusalem with Him to know Jesus Christ , to know the mystery of His eternal love. Let us enter with Him to know Him better and to love Him more. More and more; because our love is never enough. Until eternity our hearts will not be able to fully discover the treasure of this love of God expressed in the Cross of Christ.”
On the road to the Cross, Holy Week begins with the Feast of the Branches Sunday. Nathalie Ritzmann (SAT-7 TURK /İzmir)
