Eastersunday 2009

Eastersunday was this year also spent in Jerusalem, at least the first part of the day. I think I can say that this was one of the most beautiful sermons I have ever been to. Again, being a secular christian I did not come so much for the religious reasons as I came for the experience itself, but then again lutheran christianity feels familiar and dear to me in this chaos of greek orthodox christians, ultra orthodox jews, druze, muslims, catholics, bahai's and secular jews etc...
The sermon itself was very nice, and it was cool to be where it all happend when they were reading from the bible.

I got up earlier than last time, about a quarter to five, that means 04:45, it is easier to visualize the horrendous time in numbers. I managed after some discussion with myself to get up. It was so nice to walk through the old city when it was still dark and quiet.

Jerusalem old city at 05:00


Jerusalem old city at 09:00



Damaskus gate at 05:00


Damaskus gate at 09:00

I took the bus to the mount of olives, and when I arrived to the place it looked from a distance like a cult gathering.

Then I got closer, and there were already a lot of people who had managed to get up and show up for the sermon.

The priest takling with the people

The sermon was held here on mont of olives, and from where we were sitting you could look down at east Jerusalem. The place was not randomly chosen either. One of the priests mentioned the fact that we were looking down at the wall that separates equal from equal; Palestinians and Israelis. The light on this picture shows the seperation wall and an IDF (Israeli Defence Force)base/station.

It was so nice to be able to see how the light changed

And the view was magnificent

This priest was a funny one...

He chose to put a sports metaphore in his speech, and he said that the ball is in our court to do be good human beings etc. He then picked up a tennis raquet and a tennis ball and smashed it to a random person. The ball was in his court. Then he picked another ball and smashed it somewhere else. Then he picked a third one and smashed it somewhere, but he hit the big cross on the table so the ball came back to him. Quite funny in a symbolic, christian sense.

I looked to my left and all the sudden the sun appeared.

When the sermon was over we were all invited to have breakfast at the house of one of the members of the lutheran community in Jerusalem. And if I wouldn't actually have liked the sermon, then the breakfast still would be all worth it. We were quite a few people, but still they had prepared so much food that we would not worry about going home with an empty stomach. Everything from BACON to chocolate cake(Thanks to Kendra for sharing so sisterly), tomatoes, hummus, cheese, fresh bread, tea, juice etc.

Amazing view from the house and garden where we had breakfast.

When one haven't tasted real bacon in a while one really apreciates it when being served to you.


It was an experience I will take with me forever, and I recommend to all of you (Like Live recommended to me:) ) to go to this sermon if you ever stay in Jerusalem on eastersunday.