Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Christians mark Good Friday in Jerusalem

Christians from across the world have gathered in Jerusalem for Good Friday.

An Orthodox Christian worshipper holds a cross.
The crucifixion of Jesus is being remembered in prayers and processions throughout Jerusalem. (AAP)

Local Christian Arabs and pilgrims from around the world have made their way down the cobbled Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, where Jesus is believed to have walked to his crucifixion.

Thousands of worshippers, some bearing wooden crosses, walked through the walled Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where they believe Jesus was crucified and buried before rising from the dead three days later.

The city was also busy on Friday with Jewish worshippers celebrating the week-long festival of Passover, which commemorates the Exodus of the biblical Israelites from captivity in Egypt.

Israeli police meanwhile limited access to Jerusalem's flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque compound, fearing more unrest after days of clashes.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said men under the age of 50 were barred, but there were no restrictions on women.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Dozens of Palestinians were wounded in clashes with police at the site on Wednesday and Sunday after Jewish visitors were allowed onto the compound.

Jews believe the mosque compound is on the site of the first and second biblical temples, their holiest place, and refer to it as the Temple Mount.

Today the site hosts the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosques, and is the third holiest site in Islam.

It has frequently been a flashpoint in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world