Jerusalem’s Church of the Resurrection Holds Limited Easter Prayers Amid War

Jerusalem is marking this year’s Day of the Resurrection under the shadow of war, with many of the traditional celebrations absent. The mood described in local reporting is one of sadness and expectation, as the conflict that has affected many aspects of life in the Holy Land continues.

The Church of the Resurrection, long a destination for millions of Christians from around the world, has closed its doors to crowds. Worship there is limited to a narrow range of prayers, and those present describe hope as persisting despite the difficult scene.

Archbishop Attallah Hanna said the church had remained closed because of the aftermath of the war, a decision that directly affected the number of worshippers at one of the most important Christian observances. He said religious rituals had not stopped, and that prayers had been held regularly inside the church since the war, in an effort to preserve spiritual practice, even in a minimal form. He said that if the war continued until the feast itself, prayers might be held with very limited numbers, including the Patriarch, some bishops and clergy, and a small symbolic presence of worshippers. He compared this scenario to the restrictions on religious gatherings during the Corona pandemic, and said the church hoped conditions would change before Christmas so that worshippers could return.

The Archbishop also raised restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, calling for the removal of military barriers that limit their access to holy places. He said freedom of worship is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed, especially during religious holidays, and that continuing such restrictions added to the suffering of the population.

Archbishop Hanna described war as “absolute evil,” saying the church rejects it on religious and humanitarian grounds because of its heavy toll on civilians. He said the innocent are the real victims of any conflict and pay a heavy price in their security and lives, and that ending the war must be an urgent priority. He said justice for the Palestinian people is the only way to achieve lasting peace, and that Palestinians must enjoy their full rights, including freedom and dignity, as well as unrestricted access to holy places on holidays and ordinary days alike. He argued that the absence of justice has kept the conflict open (Matthew 5:9).

A letter from the patriarchs and church leaders in Jerusalem, issued for the 2026th anniversary of the Resurrection, said the current war has returned the region to a cycle of destruction and suffering, and that the wider crises of the world have intensified. The letter called on believers everywhere to intensify prayer and action to end the war and to provide relief to those affected, saying responsibility is shared rather than one-sided. It also urged the international community to take concrete steps to stop the bloodshed and to work for justice and peace in the region, beginning in Jerusalem and extending to Gaza, Lebanon, and other affected territories.

Christians in Jerusalem are receiving this year’s Resurrection with closed church doors and a single plea: that the war will end, that life will return to the Holy City, and that peace will be restored.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)