With Easter Sunday just four days away, Christian celebrants from Rome to the Philippines are partaking in Holy Week traditions during the final week of Lent following Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
Many worshippers carry palms leaves throughout liturgies and processions. But while the sight of palm leaves are among the first visible signs that Holy Week has begun, Christians from various regions celebrate in their own unique traditions.
Among the most prominent and visible are the Spanish processions of Christians dressed in nazarenos, or penitential robes, which many participants wear as an act of penance during Holy Week processions. The ceremonies and processions occur all over Spain as well as in the Philippines and several South American countries, where Christians have a significant presence.
Elsewhere, in Romania, Orthodox Christians on Tuesday reenacted Christ's crucifixion, in a ceremony known as the “Stations of the Cross.”
The celebrations will continue throughout Holy Wednesday until Maundy Thursday evening, when Christians will commemorate Christ's Last Supper. On Good Friday, Christians will commemorate Christ's crucifixion before entering a traditional period of mourning and preparation for Easter Sunday, which falls on April 20.
Here's a look in photos at how some Christians celebrate Holy Week.
Copts attend a church session during Easter Holy week in central Cairo, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Asmaa WaguihActors take part in a reenactment of the "Via Crucis" (Way of the Cross), which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during the Orthodox Holy Week celebrations in Bucharest, April 15, 2014. Romania's Christian Orthodox majority will celebrate Easter on April 20 together with Catholic believers.Reuters/Bogdan CristelActors take part in a re-enactment of the "Via Crucis" (Way of the Cross), which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during the Orthodox Holy Week celebrations in Bucharest, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Bogdan CristelCostaleros (men who carry floats bearing the statue of Christ or the Virgin) of Los Estudiantes (The Students) brotherhood are seen as they take part in a Holy Week procession in the Andalusian capital of Seville, southern Spain, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Marcelo del PozoMembers of the Los Estudiantes (The Students) brotherhood are seen in front of the image of Buena Muerte (Good Death) Christ as they take part in a Holy Week procession in the Andalusian capital of Seville, southern Spain, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Marcelo del PozoActors take part in a re-enactment of the "Via Crucis" (Way of the Cross), which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during the Orthodox Holy Week celebrations in Bucharest, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Bogdan CristelPenitents carry an image of the El Perdon (Forgiveness) Christ during a Holy Week procession in Almeria, southeast Spain April 15, 2014.Reuters/Francisco BonillaPenitents of the El Perdon (Forgiveness) brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in Almeria, southeast Spain, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Francisco BonillaA nun looks at penitents before the start of the procession of the "Silencio y la Santa Cruz" brotherhood during Holy Week in Oviedo, northern Spain April 15, 2014.Reuters/Eloy AlonsoA penitent takes part in the procession of the "Silencio y la Santa Cruz" brotherhood during Holy Week in Oviedo, northern Spain April 15, 2014.Reuters/Eloy AlonsoCatholic penitents hold palm fronds during a procession on Palm Sunday at the 20 de Julio Church in Bogota, April 13, 2014.Reuters/John VizcainoA penitent takes part in the procession of the "Santisimo Cristo de la Paciencia" brotherhood in Santiago de Compostela, northern Spain, April 15, 2014.Reuters/Miguel VidalPenitents walk during a procession of the "La Vera-Cruz" brotherhood during Holy Week, on the Roman Bridge near the Mosque of Cordoba, southern Spain, April 14, 2014.Reuters/Javier BarbanchoPenitents place a statue of Jesus Christ on top of a float during the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood in Oviedo, northern Spain April 13, 2014.Reuters/Eloy AlonsoA child covers her face from the smoke of the incense during the procession of the Jesus Nazareno de los Milagros (Jesus of Nazareth of the Miracles), in downtown Guatemala City, April 13, 2014.Reuters/Jorge Dan LopezPenitents called "morions" parade along the streets of Mogpog town on Marinduque island in central Philippines, April 14, 2014.Reuters/Erik De CastroMen dressed in traditional Roman costumes carry a statue of Jesus Nazareno de los Milagros (Jesus of Nazareth of the Miracles), during a religious procession in the streets of downtown Guatemala City, April 13, 2014.Reuters/Jorge Dan LopezCatholic penitents hold decorations made of palm fronds during a procession on Palm Sunday at the 20 de Julio Church in Bogota, April 13, 2014.Reuters/John VizcainoPenitents of the "Sant Jeroni" brotherhood take part in a Palm Sunday procession at the start of Holy Week in Palma de Mallorca, on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca, April 13, 2014.Reuters/Enrique CalvoPenitents move the statue of the Virgin of "Humildad" brotherhood Palm Sunday procession at the start of Holy Week inside a church in Malaga, southern Spain, April 13, 2014.Reuters/Jon Nazca
