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The streets of Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the ancient city where Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected, were relatively empty on Friday.
Christians across the world marked Good Friday, a religious observance commemorating Jesus’s final steps and moments on earth, on April 3, 2026. But the city where the incident first played out was quiet on Friday.
It was reported that Israeli police were in the old city while clergy and some Christian worshippers were seen praying from time to time at the Via Dolorosa route.
Traditional processions were cancelled because of safety concerns. The Jerusalem Patriarchate held Masses limited to fewer than 50 worshippers in compliance with the Israeli military’s guidelines for civilians.
The muted Good Friday in Jerusalem is mainly due to the Iran–Israel war. Jerusalem has repeatedly come under fire since Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28.
Iranian missiles sprayed shrapnel on the rooftop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, just steps from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is one of the most important sites in Christianity
Ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran has led to missile threats and air-raid risks, security restrictions and closures and limits on public gatherings. Over 1,900 people have been killed in Iran during the war, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel.
