April 2025 in Jerusalem: A Unique Convergence of Religious Holidays and Events

In 2025, all Christian denominations will celebrate Easter on the same date, and Catholics will mark Holy Jubilee Year. This creates an extraordinary concentration of religious events in Jerusalem and the Israel Ministry of Tourism looks forward to welcoming pilgrims and tourists at this time.

Рhoto by Igor Salnikov

Holy Week Around the World

Holy Week commemorates the final events in the life of Jesus before his crucifixion and resurrection. It begins on Palm Sunday and concludes on Easter Sunday. Christians around the world observe the week with diverse customs and traditions according to their communities.

  • Palm Sunday: Many participate in processions with palm branches, remembering Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
  • Holy Thursday: Commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. Many churches perform foot-washing ceremonies in remembrance of his act of humility.
  • Good Friday: A day of mourning for Jesus' crucifixion. Many Christians fast and attend church services.
  • Holy Saturday: A day of waiting and prayer before the Easter celebration.
  • Easter Sunday / Great and Holy Pascha: The most important holiday in Christianity, celebrating Jesus' resurrection. Churches hold festive ceremonies, and families gather for holiday meals.

During Easter, the holiest period in Christianity, believers worldwide turn their hearts to Jerusalem.

The Holy Land and Holy Week

The Holy Land, and especially Jerusalem, becomes a unique and deeply moving setting during Holy Week. This is a time when history comes to life, as all the events of Holy Week take place in the very locations described in the New Testament. This makes Holy Week in Jerusalem an unforgettable spiritual experience for Christian believers.

A Living Religious Experience

During this period, Jerusalem's streets, churches, and historic sites become a living stage for the events of Holy Week. Pilgrims walk the same paths Jesus took, pray in the places he stayed, and experience the city’s unique spiritual atmosphere. Among the most sacred sites are the Church of the Holy Sepulcher—believed to be the site of Jesus' burial and resurrection—and the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus walked to his crucifixion. These locations are central to the Christian faith and draw tens of thousands of visitors.

 Traditions and Rituals

Customs and traditions unique to Jerusalem enhance the atmosphere of Holy Week:

  • The Palm Sunday processions along the Mount of Olives.
  • Ceremonies of the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday.
  • The Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on the Saturday before Easter. On the morning, the renowned and unique Holy Fire ceremony takes place at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, attracting the faithful from all over the Orthodox Christian world. Many countries even dispatch airplanes to Israel to receive the Holy Fire, taken from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and return it to churches in their respective countries.

Jerusalem is home to many Christian communities from different denominations, each celebrating Holy Week in its own unique way, adding to the richness and diversity of the celebrations.

A Spiritual Experience

Holy Week in the Holy Land is a profound and moving spiritual experience, allowing believers to connect with the roots of their faith and witness the foundational events of Christianity in an authentic and unforgettable way. The year 2025 will be particularly exceptional, as all Christians will celebrate both Holy Week and Easter on the same dates. Additionally, 2025 is a Holy Jubilee Year for Catholics. This will result in an extraordinary concentration of religious events in Jerusalem’s sacred sites between April 13–20, 2025. Events will take place at the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Garden Tomb, the Via Dolorosa, and the various Christian churches throughout the city.

An Interfaith Encounter

Visitors to Jerusalem's Old City during this period will witness a unique interfaith gathering. Jewish pilgrims will fill the streets and pray at the Western Wall, while Christian tourists, clergy, and believers will participate in processions and ceremonies of different Christian traditions. At times, multiple Christian denominations will hold simultaneous services in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, adding to the extraordinary spiritual atmosphere of the city.

 

Israel’s Preparations for Jubilee 2025

The Israel Ministry of Tourism has mobilized resources and expertise to ensure a welcoming and enriching experience for Jubilee pilgrims. Key initiatives include:

 

  • Enhancing Tourist Infrastructure:
    • upgrades to key sites
    • enhancing pilgrim and tourist facilities etc.
  • Cultural and Educational Programs:
    • specialist training for tour guides
    • cooperation with all relevant branches of the tourism industry
    • creating multilingual pilgrim certificates and videos
    • webinars and online resources for Catholic communities worldwide
    • hosting key delegations from the Catholic Church
  • Special Events and Collaborations:
    • a major exhibition at the Israel Museum to celebrate 60 years since its establishment, showcasing the original Dead Sea Scroll of the Book of Isaiah discovered in the Qumran caves. The Book of Isaiah is recognized as of fundamental importance to Christianity.
    • the Way to Jerusalem pilgrimage initiative, a transformative journey on foot from Jaffa Port to Jerusalem, aligning with Jubilee themes of hope and renewal. To mark the Jubilee year, a pilgrimage will be made from Jaffa Port to Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem from April 14 to 19. During the 5 day, 111 km journey, participants will receive hospitality en route.
    • the much-anticipated opening of the historic section of the Custody’s Terra Sancta Museum in Jerusalem, showcasing a collection of unprecedented religious and historical importance to the world of Christianity in the Holy Land.
    • The complex excavations of the 600 meter Pilgrimage Road at the City of David, leading from the Siloam pool up to the Temple Mount, are nearing completion. The opening of this significant addition to the Jerusalem pilgrim and tourist experience is scheduled during the Jubilee Year 2025.
    • coordination with the Custody of the Holy Land to optimize group services at basilicas.

This Jubilee year, Israel warmly invites Pilgrims of Hope to embark on their spiritual journey, exploring the sacred sites of the Holy Land that bear witness to millennia of faith, while experiencing the warmth and hospitality of its people. Together, let us all be Pilgrims of Hope.

 

Below are links to key sites/ documents relating to the coming Jubilee year:

According to the Israel Ministry of Tourism