Archbishop Royce Morcos, spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria said the Cathedral of St. Mark and all the churches of Alexandria will be decorated with palm and wheat stalks during the Holy Week, which begins on Saturday. Black curtains will be hung on doors and walls inside churches, to commemorate the crucifixion of Christ.
The Archbishop added on Tuesday that the week starts with the Holy Saturday followed by Palm Sunday, the seventh Sunday of Lent and the last one before Easter. Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where he was received with olive and palm branches.
Churches will hold prayers and masses throughout the days of the Holy Week, whereas on Palm Sunday, people will attend the mass holding palm branches, which they later take to their homes and replace it next year with new palms.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
