Church's Official Calendar of Celebrations in Holy Land

1999: Dec --- 2000: Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec --- 2001: Jan

2000 - April
2	Sunday	Fourth Sunday of Lent
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Solemn Mass in the presence of the Latin Patriarch

5	Wednesday	Pilgrimage
	Jerusalem	Flagellation Pilgrimage (F)

6	Thursday	Pilgrimage
	Bethany	Pilgrimage, then to Bethphage, Ascension, and Pater Noster (F)
	Jerusalem	Gethsemane, Holy Hour

7	Friday
	Jerusalem	Via Dolorosa, Way of the Cross
	GC churches	Acathist Hymn to the Theotokos (the Mother of God) Notes: Nazareth, Annunciation for Orthodox

9	Sunday	Fifth Sunday of Lent
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Solemn Mass in the presence of the Latin Patriarch

12	Wednesday	Pilgrimage
	Jerusalem	Lithostrotos Pilgrimage (Flagellation ) (F)

14	Friday
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Calvary Pilgrimage at Seven Sorrows (F)
	Jerusalem	Via Dolorosa, Way of the Cross
	GC Churches	Acathist Hymn to the Theotokos (the Mother of God)

N.B. See detailed Holy Week schedule for all Catholic rites throughout the Holy Land (will be published in due time). The Holy Week celebrations at the Holy Sepulcher are governed by the Status Quo which allows no flexibility regarding their scheduling. Though the Holy Sepulcher always remains on standard (solar) time, ALL of the hours given here are according to legal summer time in order to avoid confusion.

15	Saturday
	Bethphage	Pilgrimage (F)
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Solemn Entrance of the Latin Patriarch and Solemn Procession at 15:00
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Celebration of the Sunday Vigil at 24:40

16	Sunday	Palm Sunday
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Palm Procession and Pontifical Mass by the Latin Patriarch with singing of the Passion at 8:00
	Bethphage	Palm Sunday Procession (14:30), with inter-ritual and inter-Church participation

17	Monday	Monday of Holy Week
	Jerusalem	5th Station Pilgrimage (F), Masses from 6:00 to 8:00
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher (Calvary): Parish Mass (in Arabic) at 7:00
	Jerusalem	Gethsemane, Penitential Service
	GC churches	Matins (Bride Service) at 17:00

18	Tuesday	Tuesday of Holy Week
	Jerusalem	Flagellation Pilgrimage, Mass with singing of the Passion (F) at 7:30
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Solemn Mass with singing of the Passion at 8:00
	Jerusalem	St. Peter in Gallicantu, Penitential Service
	GC churches	Matins (Bride Service) at 17:00

19	Wednesday	Wednesday of Holy Week
	Jerusalem	Solemn Mass with singing of the Passion and daily Procession (F) at 8:00
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Tenebrae Service at 16:00
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Veneration of the Column of the Flagellation throughout the day in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 10:00
	Jerusalem	Gethsemane Solemn Mass with singing of the Passion at 8:30
	GC churches	Liturgy of the Presanctified at 10:30 Matins (Bride Service) at 17:00

20	Thursday	Holy Thursday
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Pontifical Mass of the Last Supper by the Latin Patriarch, and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament at 8:00 Notes: Soon after the services (11:00), the doors of the basilica are closed.
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Liturgical Prayer at 14:45 Notes: Exit after the Service (18:00). The basilica remains closed for the rest of the day.
	Jerusalem	Mount Zion: Pilgrimage to the Cenacle (F) at 16:00
	Jerusalem	Gethsemane: Holy Hour at 20:00, followed by candlelight procession to St. Peter in Gallicantu
	GC churches	Benediction of Holy Oil at 10:00 Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil at 10:30 Passion Service at 17:00

21	Friday	Good Friday
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Notes: The doors open at 8:00, then close shortly thereafter
	Jerusalem	Calvary: Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at 8:15
	Jerusalem	Via Dolorosa: Way of the Cross at 11:30
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Liturgical Prayer at 16:00
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Burial procession at 20:10
	GC churches	Veneration of the Cross at 10:30, followed by Vespers and the Descent from the Cross Burial Service and Procession at 17:00

22	Saturday	Holy Saturday
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Easter Vigil at 7:30
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Solemn procession presided by the Latin Patriarch at 15:30
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Solemn Compline at 18:00
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher: Office of the Resurrection at 24:30
	Jerusalem	Latin Patriarchate: Easter Vigil (Italian) St. SaviorÕs: Easter Vigil (Arabic) St. Etienne: Easter Vigil (French) St. Ann's: Easter Vigil (English) Dormition: Easter Vigil (German)
	GC churches	Benediction of the Holy Fire at 10:30, followed by Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil Notes: Palm procession for the GO, with Inter-Church participation

23	Sunday	Easter Sunday
	Jerusalem	Holy Sepulcher, Solemn Entry of the Latin Patriarch, Pontifical Mass and Solemn Procession at 7:30
	Emmaus	(Qubeibeh) Solemn Entry of Fr. Custos at 16:00
	GC churches	Easter service and Divine Liturgy at 6:00 Solemn Easter Liturgy at 10:00

24	Monday	Easter Monday
	Emmaus	(Qubeibeh) Pontifical Mass by Fr. Custos at 10:00 Solemn Eucharistic Exposition at 15:00
	ÔAmwas	(Nicopolis) Solemn Mass
	GC	Divine Liturgy, procession and reading in different languages of the gospel narratives of the Resurrection at 8:00 Notes: The Armenian Church celebrates the anniversary of her Martyrs

29	Saturday	Easter Saturday
	Jerusalem	Notes: GO Holy Saturday - Holy Fire ceremony in the Holy Sepulcher

30	Sunday	Second Sunday of Easter
	Jerusalem	Church of St. Thomas, Syrian-Catholic Liturgy Notes: GO Easter Sunday