Jerusalem: Easter services marked with checkpoints and violence

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, April 20, 2025 Photo: Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon.

Source: CMEP, WCC

On Saturday, thousands of local and international Christian worshippers seeking to enter Jerusalem's Old City for the Easter Vigil were prevented; others were met with heavily enforced checkpoints, physical and verbal harassment, and widespread restrictions by Israeli police and border forces.

At the main checkpoint near the New Gate, hundreds of worshippers were held for over an hour. During this time, many were pushed, beaten, and subjected to derogatory remarks. At least three individuals were arrested. Eyewitnesses reported hearing police officers shout, "Why are you here? Go home," and "We will not allow you in."

Those who managed to pass encountered two more checkpoints in quick succession. At the second checkpoint, under the heat of the sun and in a narrow alley, the crowd was again delayed and jostled. At the third, access to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate was blocked by barricades and security forces. A particularly alarming incident occurred when a scout leader had a pistol pointed at his head by an officer-marking the first time a firearm was visibly used inside the Patriarchate to threaten the crowd during this event. The traditional scouts' parade was cancelled this year, as scout groups were denied entry.

A priest at one of the checkpoints told the faithful that he was powerless to assist them. Even the Apostolic Nuncio, present among the worshippers, was not allowed to proceed. Inside the Patriarchate, additional barricades and a heavy security presence contributed to a climate of fear and intimidation.

Local Christians described these as the most severe restrictions imposed since 1967, despite prior assurances from Israeli authorities that access would be eased. Hanna Kirreh, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Jerusalem Liaison Office advisory committee, described the treatment as "deliberate and provocative," adding, "We ask for freedom of worship and access to our holy sites, but each year it becomes worse. Our presence is under threat."

Mayadah Tarazi, also a member of the JLO advisory committee, lamented: "What should have been a moment of spiritual joy turned into a painful reminder of the daily oppression and restrictions we face under occupation."

This year's Holy Fire observance coincided with a rare leap-year convergence of the Eastern and Western Christian calendars. Bishop William Shomali, Latin Patriarchal vicar, observed: "There was discontent among many local Christians and some pilgrims due to the closures and the lack of dialogue at some barriers. The numbers allowed to reach the Holy Sepulchre plaza were less than the capacity of the plaza itself which seemed, during the Orthodox Holy fire ceremony, half filled."

Dr Audeh Quawas, member of the WCC central and executive committees, reflected: "I believe in the Resurrection and that Christ's tomb is empty. But the checkpoints and violence remind us of our responsibility to pursue justice, equality, and peace in His name."

The World Council of Churches reaffirmed its longstanding position, saying "Jerusalem must be protected as a city sacred to the three monotheistic religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. CMEP called for the historical and legal status quo of the holy sites to be up held and respected by all authorities and said the right to worship freely must be guaranteed to all, without discrimination, restriction, or intimidation."

The WCC said it "continues to document and denounce all forms of discrimination and restriction targeting Christians and other religious communities in Jerusalem, remaining steadfast in its vision of the city as one of peace, coexistence, and shared holiness. The WCC also continues to call on its partners worldwide to use their influence with the government of Israel to ensure that freedom of worship is guaranteed for all and on equal footing.

The WCC general secretary, Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, said: "It is highly unacceptable and disrespectful that Christians are not allowed to celebrate the most sacred and significant beliefs and events of their faith, the death and resurrection of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) condemned the "egregious violations of religious freedom during Holy Fire Saturday in Jerusalem."

CMEP said: "In comparison to past years, few Palestinians in the occupied West Bank received permits to enter Jerusalem. If permits were granted, they lasted a month but could only be used for a week of that time, requiring further registration to specify which week they would be used for. Rarely did an entire family get permission; if anyone was given a permit, it was usually only one or two women and children who received it, requiring Christian families to worship apart during Holy Week and Easter if the permit was used."

As one of the privileged to be able to attend the Holy Fire Service in Jerusalem on Saturday, April 19, 2025, CMEP's executive director, Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon said this about her experience: "The glory of participating in the sacred Holy Fire service could not be dimmed by the realities of occupation and oppression. Throughout the more than hour long journey walking in crowds between the New Gate and the Resurrection Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there were at least four checkpoints, each manned by Israeli soldiers or police, many of whom yelled and pushed as if our presence and attempts to worship were a violation of law and not a sacred right. I experienced harassment, pushing, and shoving by the police firsthand. But what I experienced was mild in comparison to some of the things I witnessed, such as elderly women being shoved without any respect or regard for their humanity. The host of the group I was with, a diplomatic mission present at the invitation of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, His Beatitude Theophilos, said, 'I've never seen the soldiers be so cruel.' And yet I hold onto the truth that the peace of Christ prevails and His love, mercy, and justice will not fail. The light of the world continues to shine in the darkness, as was evidenced by the Holy Fire spreading rapidly across the church, through the streets, to cities throughout Palestine and Israel, and throughout the world. We hold onto the hope that this current reality, for all who suffer - Palestinians in Gaza, all of the occupied, every person experiencing oppression and grief - this is not the end of the story, but light, goodness, peace, and love will prevail. We will continue to work toward that end."

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) said it stands beside the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and all of the churches in Jerusalem, demanding that religious freedom be protected. We likewise condemn the egregious treatment of Christians and worshipers during Holy Week and the Saturday Holy Fire service in Jerusalem.

As the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said: "These reprehensible actions deprived thousands of believers of their divine right to prayer and worship, and stand in direct contradiction to Jerusalem's eternal vocation as a city of peace for all the children of God."

In solidarity, we call for the Israeli government to ensure that Jerusalem remains a shared city where the children of Abraham and all, Jewish, Christians, and Muslims, might be able to worship freely. We pray alongside our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land that a just peace will come, injustice will cease, and all war and violence will be brought to an end in Gaza and everywhere. May the love and light of the resurrection prevail, and peace come quickly.

In a statement headed: 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God; (Matthew 5:9), the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said it "emphatically condemns the egregious violations that desecrated the sanctity of Jerusalem yesterday, particularly in the Old City and around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, during the celebration of the blessed Holy Fire Saturday.

"Israeli police forces transformed the sacred city into a militarized zone, erecting barriers, obstructing the faithful from reaching their churches, and perpetrating assaults against scouts and worshippers, both locals and pilgrims from around the world.

These reprehensible actions, which deprived thousands of believers of their divine right to prayer and worship, stand in direct contradiction to Jerusalem's eternal vocation as a city of peace for all the children of God. As our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, declared: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations"(Mark 11:17).

"In the midst of this affliction, we lift our hearts to the Risen Lord, imploring His just peace to reign over His Holy Land, for the shadow of injustice to be lifted from His city, and for the machinery of war to fall silent in the afflicted land of Gaza. May the light of the Resurrection shine once more upon all the peoples of our region, bearing witness to the triumph of justice, hope, and freedom."