Easter 2003

Today the Franciscan family of the Holy land makes its official visit to the place of the Last Supper of Jesus.
According to the tradition, this is the place where the disciples of Jesus found refuge during the time of the passion of Jesus. After the ressurection Jesus appeared to the twelve deisciples here in their gathering behind the closed doors. On the day of Pentacost the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples here in the form of tongues of fire. The Cenacle is infact the Mother of all the churches.

Help: click on the photos to enlarge.

1. 1. The Custos moving towards the Jaffa Gate with the religious preceeded by "Kawass" and the police.

2. The Armenian Quarter. The church of Dormition is visible in the background.

3. The Zion Gate of the Old City.

4. Arrival at Zion. The edifice in the background has the Last Supper room.
5-6. Below. A moment of prayer in the Cenacle.

Link: The Holy Father celebrates mass in the Cenacle during his visit to the Holy land (23 March 2000)

7. Deacon reads the Gospel (Gv 13,1-20).

8. Final benediction by Fr Custos.

9. A view of the Church of Dormition.

10. To the Church of St. Jacob.

11. The entrance to the Church of St. Jacob. The traditional place of the martyrdom of St. Jacob, the Major (Acts 12,1-3).

12.Near the place of martyrdom inside the church.

13. Visit to the Chapel of Archangels. According to the tradition this is the house of Pontefice Anna.

14. The Church of St. Mark. According to the tradition this is the house of the mother of John Mark, where Peter arrived after his liberation from the prison by an angel (Acts 12,3-17).

15. Syrian liturgical celebration at time of our visit (some of the syrian monks resident in Jerusalem are from Iraq).

16. Today the Holy Sepulcre will remain closed after the liturgical celebrations (at 12.00).

17. Gethsemane. The holy hour in the Church of All Nations, the place of the agony and betrayal of Jesus.

18. The liturgy of the word of God in which the Gospel is proclaimed in different languages.
Link: The prayer of the Holy Father in Gethsemane during his visit to the Holy land (25 March 2000)

19. A moment of prayer.

20.The flow of faithful of this occasion.