Christian pilgrims from around the world today joined Palestinian co-religionists in a solemn Easter procession through the walled Old City of Jerusalem.
Some carried massive wooden crosses from the Monastery of the Flagellation along the cobbled Via Dolorosa on the way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe Jesus was crucified, entombed and later resurrected on what is now celebrated as Easter Sunday.
"It's splendid. It's interesting because back in Singapore at least, the Easter celebrations are not so vibrant," pilgrim Dominic told AFP.
Laura Samoa, from Ivory Coast, said it was if Christ was himself present.
Also today, Jews in Israel and around the world begin celebrating the week-long Passover festival, commemorating the Biblical exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Catholic Church To Pay $76 Million To Hundreds Of Sex Abuse Victims In Canada Archaeologists Discover 2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring In Jerusalem US Catholic Conservatives Trapped In "Suicidal Attitude", Says Pope Francis 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing Ayatollah Khamenei Warns Of "Divine Wrath" If Iran Backs Down Against Israel 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court In PM Modi's Independence Day Speech, A Call For "24x7 For 2047" Oropouche Virus Kills 2 In Brazil: All About The Rare Disease Punjab Toll Plaza Blunder: Man Charged Rs 220 While Relaxing At Home Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.