Christians Flock to Jerusalem for Easter Despite Tensions

Thousands of Christians celebrated Easter with processions and joyful services throughout Jerusalem, but the Israeli Jews who moved into a Christian Quarter building remained a source of tension.

The Israeli Peace Now organization held a small demonstration inside the Old City, protesting the actions of the 150 Jews who made a 72-room building their home Wednesday in defiance of Christian Arabs who live in the area.

The Greek Orthodox Church, which owns the sprawling structure situated a few hundred yards from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher--built on the tomb where many believe Jesus was buried before the Resurrection--is seeking to evict the newcomers. The settlers claim they have a right to live anywhere in Jerusalem and have paid a former tenant for leasing rights to live in the house.

Paramilitary border and riot police continued to keep watch outside the building. On Thursday, police used tear gas to break up a demonstration outside the house led by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Diodorus I.

Meanwhile, thousands of Christian pilgrims of all denominations celebrated Easter in churches throughout Jerusalem. This year, Easter fell on the same day on both the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox calendars.

Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah led a procession of Franciscan monks and worshipers to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Inside the vast church, he said a high Mass on an altar in front of the tomb.

At the entrance of the church, women poured perfume on the red limestone “Stone of Unction” upon which tradition holds that Jesus’ body was anointed after he died on the cross. The women kissed the stone.

At midday Sunday, the Greek patriarch led a procession through the narrow streets of the Christian Quarter to the church, where he also held a service.

Protestants held Easter services at dawn at the Garden Tomb, outside the Old City, the place where they believe Jesus was buried and rose from the dead.

The number of pilgrims and tourists visiting Jerusalem during Holy Week was considerably higher than in the last two years, when the Palestinian uprising kept many visitors away.

In Beirut, meanwhile, church bells rang out across Lebanon’s Christian heartland to mark Easter. But grief for the dead--more than 950 in the last 10 weeks--dominated the day.

Subdued worshipers flocked to churches to pray for peace. Many wore black mourning instead of the usual colorful garb.

Maronite Bishop Khalil Abi Nader appealed to the Christian rivals--Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun’s regular army troops and Samir Geagea’s Lebanese Forces militiamen--to put down their guns.