Jerusalem, 10 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Orthodox Christians in Israel and around the world, together with the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches, are preparing to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem. A small number of Orthodox churches marked the holiday last Sunday and have already concluded their observances, as have other Christian denominations.
Following the ceasefire with Iran and a subsequent halt to indiscriminate Iranian attacks, the Israeli capital, especially its Old City — a focal point for all Abrahamic faiths — entered the final stage of Easter preparations on Friday under heavy security.
Israeli police, working with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, other Orthodox churches, and the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches, have finalized arrangements for the orderly conduct of services, including the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to Christian tradition, the rite will take place at the Tomb of Jesus inside the church. That is tomorrow Saturday at 13:00 local time (UTC+3).
Access to the church will be restricted to officials, local residents, and those accredited by the religious authorities. Vehicle access to points reachable around the Old City has been banned, and hundreds of police officers have been deployed to secure the area for worshippers. The Jerusalem Patriarchate has invited the faithful to gather in the area surrounding the church.
Although conditions have improved slightly compared with last week, the impact of the Iranian attacks remains evident. The strikes caused damage in the Jewish Quarter, in buildings near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and at the Temple Mount compound, Judaism’s holiest site, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is located.
The number of visitors remains very limited, and authorities are seeking to keep attendance as low as possible because the Old City lacks sufficient bomb shelters. In practice, only a small number of shelters are available, and in an emergency they would be inadequate, not to mention the danger of panic.
With the help of the Israeli authorities, Orthodox and other Christians observing Easter this Sunday are preparing to celebrate under better conditions than those experienced by those who marked Easter on Sunday, April 5, when churches were closed to the faithful and services were broadcast only on television.