Easing restrictions in the Holy Land following vaccination is a step to reopen pilgrimages: Patriarch Daniel

Patriarch Daniel said that the presence of the faithful at the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem is encouraging. Last year, only clergy participated. Easing restrictions was made possible by the vaccination of a large percentage of Israel’s population and is a step toward a possible reopening of pilgrimages, His Beatitude said May 1, 2021.

“In Israel, as a result of the vaccination of a very large percentage of the population, the measures or restrictions imposed last year have been eased,” the Patriarch of Romania said during a short ceremony held at the Patriarchal Cathedral On Holy Saturday to welcome the Holy Fire.

“It is a step towards a possible reopening of the pilgrimages,” he continued. “Starting with May 23, we hope to be able to send groups of pilgrims again, of course, preferably vaccinated pilgrims, to resume visits to the Holy Places.”

“We pray to the Most Holy Trinity to vouchsafe us to enjoy again the pilgrimages to the Holy Land, but also here, at home, to be closer to each other and to be able to thank God more for the gift of life and for the gift of health” the Patriarch of Romania said.

“Because this pandemic, this universal plague, has shown us how much we depend on the gift of life and health, which comes from God, but which we must protect and cultivate,” he concluded.

Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu

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