Eastern Churches celebrate Palm Sunday

SYRIA / IRAQ / TURKEY — On 17 April, the Eastern Churches celebrated Palm Sunday, commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

Churches following the Julian, or eastern, calendar in Zalin (Qamishli) and Hasakah in North and East Syria held Palm Sunday Holy Liturgies with the participation of a large crowd of believers. The celebrations included performances by the scout troupes, with deacons and priests circling the churches.

Syriac Orthodox St. George’s Church and other eastern churches in Hasakah celebrated Palm Sunday. Syriac Orthodox Archbishop in Gozarto (Jazira) Region and the Euphrates Mor Maurice Amsih held the Holy Liturgy.

In Maaloula, one of the four remaining villages where Western Neo-Aramaic is spoken, many priests, deacons and a large crowd of Syriac Orthodox Christians participated in celebrating Palm Sunday.

The Syriac ("Aramaic") speaking Orthodox Christians of Maaloula celebrating Palm Sunday, this afternoon. 🌿 pic.twitter.com/TvN0JdFB1h

— Ciarán Ó Murchadhá ☦︎︎☘ (@PoeticCiaran) April 17, 2022

In Iraq, churches of Bartalle, Qaraqosh, Baghdede, and other areas celebrated Palm Sunday amid a large gathering of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people.

On this occasion, governmental and political figures, including Iraqi President Barham Salih, Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Masrour Barzani extended their congratulations.

In Turkey, the Palm Sunday Holy Liturgy was held in churches across Tur Abdin, southeast Turkey, amid large crowds of believers and Syriac hymns.

Today Palm Sunday in Turabdin🌿 pic.twitter.com/t6YX9aB7ZG

— DAVID ܕܘܝܕ (@dvdvrgl) April 17, 2022