A member of the Christian community prays during a ceremony at a church in Peshawar. PHOTO: FILE
Christians across the city celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday, kicking off a busy week of religious activities leading up to Easter (April 20).
The Holy Week refers to the tail end of the 40-day period of Lent and churches host prayers throughout this time. Palm Sunday is observed in remembrance of Christ coming in to Jerusalem in his final days before his crucifixion.
Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter, the Bishop of Peshawar, said during this special week people are taught about love and honour, adding commemoration has already begun in churches across the city. The community usually takes out a small procession during this week but like all other religious ceremonies, the events will be limited to churches, Peter said.
All major churches, including All Saints Church, St Michael’s Church and St John’s Church were decorated with palm leaves.
Members of the community, including women and children, visited church holding small palm leaves in their hands to honour the day.
“These symbolise joy and victory,” said Mishal Masih, who was holding several palm branches while entering a church in Cantt. Palm leaves were being blessed and distributed to church goers.
Mishal said that many Christians were offering prayers for the well-being of their community at a time of grave religious discrimination and security concerns. The victims of the bomb blast that killed more than 80 people in the city’s All Saints Church last September would especially be remembered.
“This week teaches us to help people who are facing serious hardships,” said Padri Pervaiz. With regards to security risks, many Christians expressed their concerns about churches situated outside cantonment areas, adding that they needed to be protected.
New security measures have been taken by law enforcement agencies recently, such as the introduction of a biometric entry system at All Saints Church that requires fingerprint verification for anyone entering the premises.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2014.
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My heart goes out for Christians living in Pakistan. God created all people in His own image and gave them the right to be called Children of God. "Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter, the Bishop of Peshawar, said during this special week people are taught about love and honour." With all due respect to the Bishop, more importantly than love and honor, the Holy Week signifies the passion, suffering, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the remission of the sins of the whole whole so that we the people can be reconciled with our Creator God through the mediation of Christ Jesus. My prayers and heart full of sorrow and compassion goes out for all Christians living in Pakistan in fear, sub-human, un-dignified manner that God never intended for them. May the Almighty Father show mercy, grace, and kindness to all who are persecuted in His name!