www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Photo Gallery Palm Sunday -- an occasion to celebrate and pray for Church unity

The Melkites (from the Greenacre parish in Sydney) joined with the local Greek Orthodox, Maronite, and the Copt Orthodox churches after each church's respective Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy to process down to the local Maronite high school (college), chanting hymns along the way. Each church took a different path, merging only at the gates to the local Maronite monastery.

It was a wonderful day. Thousands took part. The police cleared the roads for us (and it took hours to clear the backed-up cars!). Fairly warm at 35 C (100 F).

Our Melkite scouts led us on the drums, doing us proud. We were all cheered as we entered the Maronite enclave.

sha3niin mubaarak (blessed Palm Sunday), and may we all be one.

An absolutely beautiful expression of the common Apostolic faith of our Churches.

I am intrigued by what appear to be young ladies carrying the processional torches and fans.

Totally cool! What a blessing, to heal a nation and it's people.

I took the liberty of sharing your words and pictures on my FB page Matta

Sounds like you are from the Russian tradition?
In the Antiochene (and I think the Greek) tradition, the priests change from dark to light vestments during the celebration of "Saturday of Light", which is the original Resurrection service.

The one we now celebrate at midnight came from Constantinople and displaced the original.

As to your question. Shouting "Christos anesti" ('Christ is risen'), carrying the new light in procession into the dark church (and perhaps back home), sharing in the Easter joy of the risen Lord throughout the Divine Liturgy ("Christ is risen", "Indeed he is risen")--how could you not be celebrating the Resurrection?

Altar Girls. Most of the Catholic Church(s) do this now.