Christians mark Good Friday in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM - Christian pilgrims from around the world on Friday joined Palestinian co-religionists in a solemn Easter procession through the walled Old City of Jerusalem.

Some carried massive wooden crosses from the Monastery of the Flagellation along the cobbled Via Dolorosa on the way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe Jesus was crucified, entombed and later resurrected on what is now celebrated as Easter Sunday.

"It's splendid. It's interesting because back in Singapore at least, the Easter celebrations are not so vibrant," pilgrim Dominic told AFP.

Laura Samoa, from Ivory Coast, said it was if Christ was himself present.

"The Easter celebration was wonderful," she said.

"You felt like if he is still here again. So, it was wonderful."

Also on Friday, Jews in Israel and around the world begin celebrating the week-long Passover festival, commemorating the Biblical exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.