Holy Week & Easter Photo Tour in Jerusalem 2024
Photographers visiting Israel during Holy Week and Easter 2024 are in for a visual treat. Witnessing one of the greatest events in religion, Easter is Christianity’s most important holiday, and is especially relevant in Jerusalem, where Christians celebrate Jesus’ entrance to the Old City down the Mount of Olives, until his crucifixion and death at the site that is now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Photography during this time is based around environmental portraits, street photography and architecture. Observant Christians from all denominations visit Jerusalem during this week, and offer the travel photographer an excellent range of photographic subjects and genres.
Celebrating the Holy Week of Easter in Israel is a life changing experience for many Christian pilgrims. Thousands of people from all over the world come to visit each year to trace the footsteps of Jesus and his last moments. From March 24 – April 1, the Jewish holy week of Passover coincides with Easter. Even to the most hardened atheist, it is impossible to leave Jerusalem without it leaving it’s mark on you. This memorable photo adventure begins on Palm Sunday, and continues through Good Friday until the spectacular finale on Holy Saturday. Our week includes photography in other sites within Israel – Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Caesarea, Acre, Masada and the Dead Sea.
An Ethiopian pilgrim prays by the column believed to be split by the holy fire in 1579 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
2024 Holy Week in Jerusalem will commence on Sunday, March 24 and will end on Saturday, April 1. The schedule for Holy Week & Easter is noted below:
Sunday March 24 – Palm Sunday:
07:00 Holy Sepulchre: Palm Procession & Pontifical Mass – Altar of Mary Magdalene
14:30 Bethpage Palm Sunday Procession from the Church of Bethpage, Mount of Olives to the Church of St. Anne
17:00 Holy Sepulchre: Daily Procession
Monday March 25 – Holy Monday:
06:00 Chapel of the 5th Station of the Via Crucis: Masses every ½ hour until 8:00
07:00 Holy Sepulchre – Calvary: Parish Mass
08:00 Holy Sepulchre: Solemn Mass
17:00 Holy Sepulchre: Daily Procession
18:00 Bethany Church of St. Lazarus: Solemn Mass presided by the Custos
Tuesday March 26 – Holy Tuesday:
08:00 Holy Sepulchre – Holy Tomb: Solemn Mass with singing of the Passion
17:00 Holy Sepulchre: Daily Procession
Wednesday March 27 – Holy Wednesday:
08:00 Holy Sepulchre – Holy Tomb: Solemn Mass with singing of the Passion & daily procession
08:00 Gethsemane – Basilica of the Agony: Solemn Mass with singing of the Passion
10:00 Holy Sepulchre – Blessed Sacrament Chapel: Veneration of the Column of Flagellation throughout the day
16:00 Holy Sepulchre: Tenebrae Service
Thursday March 28 – Holy Thursday:
08:00 Holy Sepulchre: Pontifical Mass (Supper of the Lord & Mass of the Chrism) Procession of the Blessed Sacrament
14:45 Holy Sepulchre: Divine Office
15:30 Mount Zion – Last Supper Room: Pilgrimage to the Cenacle (Washing of the feet) and to the churches of St. James and St. Mark (Departure from St. Savior Monastery at 15.10)
21:00 Gethsemane – Basilica of the Agony: Holy Hour (No Photographs)
Friday March 29 – Good Friday:
07:15 Holy Sepulchre – Calvary: Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
Note: Basilica doors open at 7:00 (only for celebration, not for visits) & close shortly after.
12:15 Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa: Way of the Cross with the Franciscan Friars
16:00 Holy Sepulchre: Divine Office
20:10 Holy Sepulchre: “Funeral” Procession
Saturday March 30 – Holy Saturday
06:30 Holy Sepulchre – at the Holy Tomb: Easter Vigil
18:00 Holy Sepulchre – at the Holy Tomb: Solemn Vespers
23:30 Holy Sepulchre – Altar of Mary Magdalene: Pontifical Celebration of the Divine Office presided by the Custos
Sunday March 31 – Easter Sunday:
10:00 Holy Sepulchre: Entrance of Apostolic Administrator
10:30 Holy Sepulchre –Holy Tomb: Pontifical Mass & Solemn Procession
17:00 Holy Sepulchre: Daily Procession
Monday April 1 – Easter Monday:
08:00 Holy Sepulchre: Daily Solemn Mass
10:00 Emmaus Qubeibeh: Pontifical Mass & Blessing of bread presided by the Custos
14:30 Emmaus Qubeibeh: Vespers & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
17:00 Holy Sepulchre: Daily Procession
Our photo adventure revolves around Jerusalem, the state capital and the largest city in Israel. With 5000 years of history, it is holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Old City has preserved it’s history of legacies and stories, documenting the life it used to be. During Holy Week, the city transforms into a melting pot of pilgrims from all over the globe. Photographing the sight of worshippers and clergy amongst a background of light and colour through the Old City is an experience you are not likely to forget.
The reenactment of Jesus carrying his crucifix through the Via Dolorosa in the Old City
On Palm Sunday, thousands of pilgrims descend the Mount of Olives to re-enact Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The crowds of worshippers in song and giving blessings, with palms and an abundance of colour is a slight to behold. Good Friday is a very special day in Jerusalem and one of the most amazing sights in religion. We will capture the faithful as they hoist wooden crosses and chant prayers to mark the crucifixion of Jesus. Known as “The way of the cross”, the procession retraces Jesus’ final steps along the Via Dolorosa and follows the 14 stations as they finally arrive to the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The mysterious miracle of Holy Fire on the following day also occurs at this church.
A cross leans against a wall by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church in the Old City of Jerusalem
Easter is the most religious and spiritual holiday in the Christian calendar. Commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, the holiday begins in the Judean Desert, where Jesus spent 40 days and nights preparing for his death, and is commemorated by observant Christians in modern days with Lent. Easter culminates with Holy Week, where Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to much celebration; his last supper on Holy Thursday with his 12 disciples on Mount Zion, just outside the walls of the Old City in Jerusalem; his final walk down the Via Dolorosa in the Old City and his crucifixion on Good Friday, and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Please contact us for further information on joining us on this memorable learning experience.