MINSK, 29 March (BelTA) - Catholics are celebrating the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem, also known as Palm Sunday, today, 29 March.
On the last Sunday of Great Lent, one week before Easter, Christian believers celebrate the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on the eve of His crucifixion and suffering. The Church interprets this event as the self-sacrifice of the Son of God for the redemption of the world’s sins, as well as the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the royal ministry of Christ.
On this day more than two thousand years ago, the Jews who had come for the Passover feast greeted Jesus as the Messiah, a prophet, and a great miracle worker. Adults and children sang and rejoiced, strewed the road with palm branches, exclaiming “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The branches of the Palestinian palm, symbolizing great joy, have been replaced here by willow branches, hence the name Palm Sunday (Willow Sunday).
On this day, believers stand during the service with willow twigs blessed in the church, welcoming the unseen coming Christ. Before the start of the service, a procession is traditionally held around the church or inside the church. During the procession, festive antiphons and the hymn to Christ the King are sung. The procession symbolically represents the people who went out to meet the Savior at the time of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.
A custom of the holiday is special sessions held in church Sunday schools. Many members of the Catholic community and other Christian denominations dedicate their time on this day to studying the history of the suffering of Jesus Christ, which led to His death and subsequent resurrection. 
Photos by Leonid Shcheglov
Photos by Leonid Shcheglov
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