Asylum seekers celebrate Easter

Among the Ge’ez rite asylum seekers there are a few hundred Ge’ez rite Catholics who celebrate according to the same calendar as their Orthodox brothers and sisters. Father Medhin, the Catholic Ge’ez rite chaplain, led prayers all through Holy Week in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Elsabeth, a consecrated lay assistant, reports: “The observance of Holy Week was kicked off by a retreat on Friday, April 22, 2016, held in Jaffa. This was followed by the solemn celebration of Palm Sunday in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Saturday, April 23. Good Friday, April 29 was marked by readings of scripture and penitential activities consisting of "sigdet" (continuous genuflection), commemorating our Lord's passion, as well as confessions throughout the day. The celebrations culminated in an Easter Vigil held at the Church of St. Anne in the Old City of Jerusalem, followed by a brief festive "shibsheba" or sacred dance by faithful from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.”

It is noteworthy that the community of Catholics detained in the Holot camp in the Negev received permission to join the celebrations on Good Friday and on Easter.