And the war is hitting close to home.
From The Times of Israel:
Fragments from intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles fell in several areas of Jerusalem in today’s attacks, according to the police and rescue services.
The Fire and Rescue service says a large chunk from an intercepted missile struck a home in East Jerusalem, causing damage.
Other fragments landed near the National Library, not far from the Knesset, and at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City.
For the first time on record, one of the most sacred sites in the Christian world, the Church of the Holy Sepulchure, has been shuttered since the end of February:
The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has remained closed since February 28 due to the climate of insecurity caused by the conflict in the Middle East, an unprecedented situation due to its duration that prevents the celebration of masses and liturgies in the place where Christian tradition places the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
According to Vatican News, the large two-leaf gate that has protected the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre for centuries had never remained closed for such a continuous period of time.
Throughout history, wars, tensions, or even the pandemic limited access to the sanctuary, but they had never prevented liturgical celebrations in this central place of Christian faith for weeks.
The situation also coincides with the Lenten season, a period of spiritual preparation leading to Holy Week, which is traditionally experienced in Jerusalem by walking the Via Dolorosa, the path that recalls the Passion of Jesus Christ up to Golgotha.
However, since the end of February, the doors of the temple have remained closed, and the celebration of rites that are part of a millennial tradition is not permitted.
The prolongation of this situation raises fears that the celebrations of the Paschal Triduum, the central moment of the Christian liturgical calendar, may be affected.
Ecclesiastical authorities in the Holy Land have intensified their efforts with Israeli authorities to obtain at least permission to celebrate Holy Week inside the sanctuary that houses Golgotha and the empty tomb of Christ.
The local Church insists on the importance of maintaining the Christian presence in what is considered the Mother Church of all Churches, also recalling the words of St. John Paul II at the beginning of his pontificate: “
Do not be afraid. Open wide, even more, open wide the doors to Christ”.
We visited the Holy Sepulchre on pilgrimage in 2023 and had the great privilege of celebrating Mass in the Edicule, directly over the tomb of Christ, a spot open to just 30 people at a time for Mass (which is allowed only three times a day). It was a privilege I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
May God preserve and protect this holy site!
Top photo from Wikipedia, via Flickr/JLascar/Creative Commons license
