Christians celebrate Easter in Jerusalem's Old City - in pictures

Israel has reopened religious sites, restaurants and hotels after one of the world's most successful vaccination drives

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa burns incense around the Stone of Anointing during an Easter vigil mass on Holy Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. AFP

Worshippers pray at the Stone of Anointing – the place where Jesus Christ's body is believed to rest. AFP

Franciscan friars hold candles as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. AFP

In imitation of St Francis of Assisi, Franciscan friars seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. AFP

Easter time is celebrated around the world with special church services, music, candlelight, flowers and the ringing of church bells. AFP

A Catholic nun plays the organ during an Easter mass. Traditional hymns are often sung during this annual celebration. AFP

A procession enters the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. AFP

Nuns pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. AP

The Stone of Anointing – a small slab with four pillars surmounted by a marble canopy – attracts thousands of pilgrims. AFP

A Christian worshipper prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's old city. AP

Millions of Christians around the world celebrate Easter. AFP

Held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Sunday, the vigil mass is the first celebration of Easter. AFP

Christians in Jerusalem came together to celebrate Easter this year in a sign the coronavirus pandemic is winding down.

Religious sites in Jerusalem were open but there were none of the mass pilgrimages usually seen in the Holy Week leading up to Easter.

Last year, Jerusalem was under a strict lockdown but more than half of Israel's population has now been vaccinated against the virus.

This year, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead, is open to visitors with masks and social distancing.

Franciscan friars in brown robes led hundreds of worshippers down the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday, retracing what tradition holds were Jesus’ final steps, while reciting prayers through loudspeakers at the Stations of the Cross.

Another group carried a wooden cross along the route through the Old City, singing hymns and pausing to offer prayers.

Israel has launched one of the world’s most successful vaccination campaigns, allowing it to reopen restaurants, hotels and religious sites.

But air travel is still limited by quarantine and other restrictions, keeping away the foreign pilgrims who usually descend on Jerusalem during Holy Week.

Israeli authorities said up to 5,000 Christian Palestinians from the West Bank would be permitted to enter for Easter celebrations.

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