By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The excitements that usually characterise the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into the biblical city of Jerusalem, otherwise known as Palm Sunday, was virtually lacking yesterday April 5 as Christians all over the world particularly orthodox churches marked it silently in the face of global lockdown due to deadly coronavirus pandemic ravaging the entire globe.
Usually, Palm Sunday is marked with excitements by Christians worldwide particularly orthodox churches like Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Cherubim and Seraphim, ex-cetera. It marks the beginning of the Holy Week culminating in the suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which is observed/celebrated by the Catholic Church and some other Christian Churches worldwide.
It is marked with blessing and exhibition of palm leaves, procession with a donkey carrying a young lad, singing and drumming to the glory of God as a symbol of triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem where he was crucified.
But this year’s Palm Sunday was marked silently as there were no church gatherings, processions due to social distancing and no gatherings as directed by the government.
Most gates of the churches visited by our correspondent were locked. The churches include Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Coker, Orile-Iganmu, St Pio Catholic Church, Doyin/Aguda, St Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church Abata, Orile-Iganmu and St Matthew Catholic Church, Amukoko.
Others are St Michael Anglican Church, Opere Street, Coker; Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Memudu Street.
Most Pentecostal churches also put their gates under lock.
