Easter 2025 in St. James Vicariate

Jaffa

On Thursday evening, the Jaffa community began the Easter season with the first part of the Triduum prayer, which included the foot-washing ceremony. The community gathered to mark the beginning of the crucifixion of the Messiah, culminating the next day on Good Friday. This day of fasting and prayer is a time for the community to identify with the suffering of the crucified Jesus. The second part of the Triduum prayer included the veneration of the Cross. This year, the ceremony was graced by the presence of the Patriarchal Vicar, Fr. Piotr, and the community is grateful for his visit and special blessing.

The following evening, the Sabbath, the community gathered at three o'clock to complete the prayer with joy and hope, singing "Christ is risen! Hallelujah!" The joy was further amplified by the admission of two young girls to the Church. After the sermon, the girls were baptized and received the Sacrament of Confirmation, marking the growth and expansion of the community. We wish them a blessed journey in Christ.

After the prayer, the community continued its celebration with a large and festive meal.

On Easter Sunday, a solemn Mass was held with many participants. During this prayer, a community member received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The celebration continued with a communal meal organized by the community members. Special thanks to all who participated in the preparations and brought food, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere, especially to the head of the community, Fr. Apolinary. May we always be renewed in Christ!

Jerusalem

The Jerusalem community experienced the three days of Easter in a beautiful and meaningful way. On Thursday, Fr. Benny celebrated the Lord’s Supper according to the Jerusalem rite in a chapel filled with people. After the Mass and refreshments, a group of 32 people walked to the Gethsemani Garden for a quiet hour of prayer among the Franciscan cypress trees on the Mount of Olives.

On Good Friday, a day of fasting and prayer, the community gathered at 2:00 PM for an hour of personal prayer followed by the Passion of the Lord, conducted by Fr. David Neuhaus.

On Holy Saturday, the prayer began in the backyard of the Shimon and Hannah House with the ceremony of the Holy Fire and the blessing of the Paschal Candle. Many guests joined the Hebrew-speaking Christian community to celebrate. After the Mass, refreshments were served in the community Moadon.

On the Sunday of the Resurrection, the service was held at 6:00 PM by the Patriarchal Vicar, Fr. Pyotr. The chapel and the entire floor were filled to capacity, with people standing outside. During the thanksgiving after Communion, members of Russian origin sang hymns from the Orthodox tradition, moving everyone. After a festive refreshment, some members and guests stayed with Fr. Benny around a bonfire, singing songs of praise to God.

Haifa

The Haifa community celebrated the climax of the liturgical year, commemorating the main events in the life of Jesus: His entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The community also celebrated the baptism of two brothers, adding to the atmosphere of joy.

Holy Week began on Palm Sunday with a celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The community welcomed Jesus with singing, clapping, and waving palm and olive branches, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

On Holy Thursday, the community held a solemn Mass that included the commemoration of the Lord's Supper and the foot-washing ceremony, where Fr. Igino washed the feet of the faithful, symbolizing Jesus' love and humility.

On Good Friday, the community united with the suffering and death of Jesus on the Cross through the liturgy, which included the reading of the Passion, special prayers, and the veneration of the Cross.

Saturday marked the transition from mourning to joy, from death to resurrection. The community celebrated the liturgy, beginning with the lighting of the new Easter Candle and the reading of the history of salvation. The celebration included the baptism and anointing of a young brother and sister, who were welcomed into the Church. The celebration ended with a shared meal and an abundance of joy and thanksgiving.

On Easter Sunday, the community celebrated Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, His victory over sin and death, and the promise of eternal life. The celebration continued with a communal meal, bringing hearts together in joy and thanksgiving.

Beer Sheva

This year, the Easter Triduum in Beersheba was truly blessed. The community prayed together in Hebrew and English, with more participants than expected. The days were filled with prayer, reflection, and celebration. Thank you to all who helped organize the ceremonies.

Russian Speaking Communities

Easter week in the parishes of Haifa, Emmaus, and Tel Aviv began with a special Palm Sunday. Two professional musicians, Sofia and Antonina, joined the Mass in Haifa, performing beautiful Catholic hymns, mostly Gregorian chant, both during and after the service.

It was truly uplifting. After Mass, the whole congregation asked them to come back and help us pray again. On Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper drew a big crowd—but the real miracle happened afterward. The church in Haifa stayed open until midnight as people kept coming to adore the Blessed Sacrament. Most of them were young Arab Christians from Haifa who often visit our church. They genuinely enjoy being part of the Mass—even when it's in Russian!

After the Good Friday service, we finally reached Holy Saturday and the long-awaited Easter Vigil. Earlier that day, our priest, Fr. Michal, had celebrated Mass for the community in Emmaus, so we started late—at 10 PM—but with tons of enthusiasm. We had everything prepared: beautiful decorations, a solemn Offertory, and the joyful anticipation of the most important event for any Christian—the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Again, there were lots of people, including new faces. Our church is always open to everyone. We didn’t leave until late into the night, after a shared meal, absolutely glowing with joy. The next day, Fr. Michal celebrated Easter Mass for our community in Tel Aviv, bringing together about 30 parishioners to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. After Mass, everyone enjoyed a festive dinner.

Tel Aviv

The Pastoral Center Our Lady of Valor in Tel Aviv hosted children and their parents on Saturday for the Easter Mass. During the homily, Br. Karol dramatically emerged from the empty tomb, creating a vivid depiction of the resurrection of Jesus. After the Mass, celebrated by Fr. Piotr, all the children were invited to an egg hunt organized by the parents. The celebration concluded with a barbecue and a lively street party filled with plenty of food.

Tiberias

Holy Week reached its peak with the Paschal Triduum, beginning on Thursday, April 17th. Through various celebrations, we accompanied Jesus in His final moments on earth. At our parish in Tiberias, the Mass of the Lord's Supper, celebrated by Fr. Andrej, marked the start of the Triduum. During the Mass, significant moments of the Last Supper were commemorated, including the institution of the Eucharist, the ministry of the priesthood, and the washing of the feet—a gesture described in the Gospel where Jesus expressed His great love for us and asked His disciples to follow His example, saying, "Do the same yourselves."

The Mass concluded with the deposition of the Eucharist in the Garden of Gethsemane, symbolizing Jesus' journey before His arrest, accompanied by a moment of adoration. The following day, Friday, April 18th, in the afternoon, we held the Way of the Cross, retracing the moments of Jesus' Passion through the 14 stations, followed by the liturgy of the cross with the reading of the Passion.

The Easter Vigil included several phases that led us from darkness to the light of Jesus' resurrection. First, the blessing of the fire outside the church and the lighting of the Paschal candle, followed by the singing of the Exultet and the Liturgy of the Word, featuring readings from the Old and New Testaments interspersed with psalms. After the proclamation of the Gospel and the homily by Fr. Giuseppe De Nardi, the general moderator of the Koinonia Giovanni Battista, the faithful were invited to vigil at the tomb set up inside the church, a sign that the Lord has truly risen and death no longer has power over Him. After the prayers of the faithful, the renewal of baptismal promises took place. The celebration concluded with a fraternal gathering in the parish hall.

On Sunday morning, the Mass was presided over by Fr. Andrej. Before the proclamation of the Gospel, the Easter sequence Victimae paschali laudes, a medieval hymn about Christ's victory over death and sin, was recited.