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Christian pilgrims carry a cross as the walk along Jerusalem's Via Dolorosa. (Reuters)
Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem's Old City for Good Friday
By The Associated Press
Tags: Jerusalem, Christianity 

Thousands of Christians from all over the world crowded the stone alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City to mark Good Friday, retracing the route Jesus took to his crucifixion.

Some pilgrims carried large wooden crosses as they walked down the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, stopping at 14 stations that commemorate events that befell Jesus as he was led to his death.

Many pilgrims prayed in the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally the site of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Some chanted hymns, while others prostrated themselves on a smooth stone slab marking the spot where Jesus' body was placed after being removed from the cross.
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The crowd in one of the Old City's streets included two dozen members of an American church group from Ohio, dressed in white. Eileen Joiner, 43, from Akron, Ohio, said she was moved to be in Jerusalem. "You see a picture and it looks impressive. You see it in person and it's always so much more," she said.

The group's pastor, Janice Skeen, said a recent shooting attack in Jerusalem hadn't deterred them. "You can't escape the feeling and the presence of God here. This is his special land," she said.

The March 6 attack by a Palestinian gunman killed eight young students at a the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in the city.

Police said thousands of security personnel were deployed around Jerusalem because of Good Friday and the Jewish festival of Purim, which also falls this weekend. Jews celebrate Purim by dressing up in costumes and reading the Book of Esther, which recounts a victory by the Jews over their enemies in ancient Persia.

Police are also on high alert because of fears of a revenge attack for the February assassination of a high-ranking commander in the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel denied involvement, but Hezbollah threatened to avenge his death with an attack on Israeli targets. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the alert level Friday was one below the maximum.

Other visitors in evidence in Jerusalem hailed from Spain, Poland, the Philippines, Brazil, and several African nations, some wearing traditional costumes.


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      1.   All Hail the Christians! 16:37  |  Jewish 21/03/08
      2.   The Religious Freaks are coming... 17:22  |  POP 21/03/08
      3.   re: All Hail the Christians! 17:50  |  Jonathan 21/03/08
      4.   friendly welcome in Israel 18:04  |  Steve G 21/03/08
      5.   Zion Train 18:16  |  NJ 21/03/08
      6.   what would happen if Arabs controlled city 18:35  |  Jackie 21/03/08
      7.   The blessed death 18:40  |  Paul 21/03/08
      8.   POP 18:42  |  Paul 21/03/08
      9.   The Palestinian Christians 18:45  |  American Patriot 21/03/08
      10.   Pop 18:45  |  pilgrim 21/03/08
      11.   Zion Train about Pop 19:00  |  Sarah 21/03/08
      12.   zion train and immolation 19:26  |  phil 21/03/08
      13.   POP 19:27  |  Chaval 21/03/08
      14.   to Steve G and others 19:36  |  Jonathan 21/03/08
      15.   re " All Hail the Christians (cut the crap Israel) 19:51  |  Zeid 21/03/08
      16.   "The presence of God is here " 19:59  |  Gina 21/03/08
      17.   ??? 20:29  |  William 21/03/08
      18.   "and several African nations, some wearing traditional costumes. 20:31  |  Gina 21/03/08
      19.   Christians Were The Persecuted 21:04  |  Jesse 21/03/08
      20.   To Jackie 21:07  |  David James Vickery 21/03/08
      21.   #15 Zeid 21:24  |  Sarah 21/03/08
      22.   Welcome welcome... as long as you`re not Russian by mistake... 21:48  |  Northern 21/03/08
      23.   Gina - Know that most Christians in Israel are Palestinian 22:10  |  Christian 21/03/08
      24.   Sarah! 22:19  |  Zeid 21/03/08
      25.   JACKIE is confused 22:30  |  Mike 21/03/08
      26.   To Zeid (#15) re: Sarah 22:35  |  David James Vickery 21/03/08
      27.   Phil...istine 23:25  |  NJ 21/03/08
      28.   Happy Easter to all pilgrims and thank you ! 00:33  |  Aaron 22/03/08
      29.   # 22 -- Khalid, that you? 00:54  |  Gina 22/03/08
      30.   David James Vickery 00:57  |  Avrum 22/03/08
      31.   To Sarah re: Zeid 01:33  |  John Manneh 22/03/08
      32.   this year the church gave..... 01:58  |  billy jack 22/03/08
      33.   Re: All Hail the Christians! 03:13  |  lightraye 22/03/08
      34.   re: Jackie is confuse 03:22  |  lightraye 22/03/08
      35.   Good Friday? 04:35  |  Mark Lincoln 22/03/08
      36.   To POP 07:34  |  Real Palestinian 22/03/08
      37.   JESSE #19, RIGHT ON! 10:40  |  ELIAS KHOURY 22/03/08
      38.   to all christian "palestinians" 12:02  |  Jake 22/03/08
      39.   To Jake in Melbourne re: "ours" 14:28  |  David James Vickery 22/03/08
      40.   Easter in Palestine, J`lem. 15:27  |  POP 22/03/08
      41.   A prayer of acknowledgement and unity for this season 15:52  |  Virginia 22/03/08
      42.   To Jake from Melbourne 16:50  |  John Manneh 22/03/08
      43.   John Manneh, Not sure what Scripture you`re reading? 17:34  |  2000 years ago? 22/03/08
      44.   I have seen it 17:51  |  jackie 22/03/08
      45.   Walking in the Spirit, I will remember with those remembering 17:58  |  Praise with those 22/03/08
      46.   re: Christians were the persecuted (Jesse) 20:33  |  Natan 22/03/08
      47.   From my experience as a Catholic Jew.. 21:25  |  Yaakov Sullivan 22/03/08
      48.   Nathan - speaking to the self-lobotomized 22:28  |  Mark Lincoln 22/03/08
      49.   Yaakov, sounds too religious to me. God`s own are not Catholic or 22:43  |  Jewish first. 22/03/08
      50.   John Manneh the ex Palestinian 00:25  |  Jake 23/03/08
      51.   reply to jake 01:09  |  billy jack 23/03/08
      52.   to # 6 - what would happen if Arabs controlled city 01:33  |  Sam 23/03/08
      53.   Jesse Baltimore, MD 01:41  |  Free Gilad Shalit 23/03/08
      54.   to # 21 - it is a joke !!! 01:42  |  Sam 23/03/08
      55.   Happy Easter greetings to all Christian supporters of Israel 01:43  |  Free Gilad Shalit 23/03/08
      56.   that they would know God`s love 02:08  |  clos 23/03/08
      57.   expelled ! 02:14  |  Howard 23/03/08
      58.   Mark Lincoln, Best to take Him at His Word. His life He gave. 03:07  |  Hear Him 23/03/08
      59.   Jack the Melbourne blindman 11:03  |  Palestinian Prince 23/03/08
      60.   Howard No. 57 19:05  |  Jackie 23/03/08
      61.   jackie #57 04:28  |  Howard 26/03/08
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