Orthodox & Catholics united for Palm Sunday in Lebanon

SIDON/BEIRUT (The Daily Star) - Christians all over Lebanon marked the religious celebration of Palm Sunday over the weekend, which this year united the Orthodox and Catholic sects.

On Sunday, Christians attended mass celebrations and marched in processions to commemorate the triumphant entrance of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. They held candles, palm leaves and olive leaves to declare their joy as they prepared for the Easter celebrations next week.

In the southern coastal city of Sidon, believers from the Orthodox Church as well as from the Catholic Church marched together down the streets of the old city.

Sidon Archbishop for the Greek Catholic Elie Haddad praised the reunion between the two churches, saying it was the first in about 60 years. “This celebration is mainly for children and a child doesn’t believe in separation. Let us be like children and solve our problems,” he added.

In Bkirki, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir presided over a Palm Sunday Mass, after which he led a religious procession and held a meeting with several religious figures.

In Beirut, Greek-Catholic Melkite Archbishop Youssef Kallas held a mass celebration and criticized the lack of discipline in Lebanon, especially referring to implementing traffic laws, and said it was giving Lebanese a bad name abroad.

In Zghorta in the north, processions filled the streets and a Mass was held at the Saint Joseph Cathedral. Rima Suleiman Franjieh, wife of Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh, and her daughter Vera attended the celebration.

Children were the main participants in the processions, as Christians believe that children were the first to greet Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. They also believe this occasion is a time to celebrate peace and love for one another.

Also in the north, Tripoli Maronite Archbishop George Bou Jaoude held a Mass to mark Palm Sunday. He urged the Lebanese during his sermon to learn from the Bible and its story and to be true in their love for their country. “We all pretend to love our country and to work toward a better society but our actions speak differently,” he said with regret.

In Batroun, Archbishop Boulos Emile Saade presided over a Mass to mark the occasion and he stressed the importance of humbleness, a value also remembered on this occasion.

In Akkar and in the Koura, flowers decorated churches and streets as believers marched chanting and praying. Mass celebrations were also held, during which religious leaders emphasized the need to seek peace and wished peace and prosperity for Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan George Khoder held a celebration at the Saint George Church in Jdeideh. He asked during his sermon to prepare for Easter next week by repenting their sins. “This week we continue to cleanse ourselves by fasting.”