Small community gathers at Holy Family Church to commemorate crucifixion of Jesus, reflecting on loss and resilience after years of war.
Dozens of Palestinian Christians gathered at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City on Friday to mark Good Friday, one of the most solemn days in the Christian calendar, as the territory experiences a fragile and repeatedly violated ceasefire in the long-running conflict.
The observance, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, took place in a subdued atmosphere, with worshippers participating in prayers, rituals, and traditional devotions inside the Latin Patriarchate church in the Zeitoun neighbourhood. Altar boys carried candles and censers, while a nun was seen kissing a crucifix during the service, symbolising deep personal faith amid widespread devastation.
A declining community under strain:
Gaza’s Christian population, once estimated at around 1,300 before the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, has dwindled sharply. Current figures suggest fewer than 1,000 remain, with some reports indicating as few as 600, representing less than 0.05 percent of Gaza’s overall population. Many have been killed, displaced, or forced to emigrate due to the destruction and humanitarian crisis.
Churches in Gaza, including the Holy Family Church and the historic Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, have served as shelters for Christians and Muslims alike during the fighting. Several religious sites sustained damage from bombardment, adding to the community’s sense of vulnerability.
This year’s Good Friday comes after Palestinian Christians in Gaza were able to publicly mark Palm Sunday for the first time since the war began, offering a rare moment of communal worship following nearly two years of restricted or private observances.
Faith and suffering deeply connected:
Worshippers described the occasion as a time for quiet reflection rather than celebration. “We practise our religious rituals under fear, under oppression,” one church official said in previous similar observances, capturing the psychological toll on a community that has endured immense loss.
Many Palestinian Christians view the suffering in Gaza through the lens of their faith, drawing parallels between the current hardship and the biblical narrative of crucifixion and hoped-for resurrection. Leaders have emphasised resilience, insisting on continuing religious traditions despite movement restrictions, destruction, and the broader regional tensions, including the recent US-Iran conflict that has further complicated life in the Holy Land.
Access to major holy sites in Jerusalem, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, has been severely limited this Holy Week due to Israeli security measures and the ongoing regional instability, preventing many from the West Bank and Gaza from participating in traditional processions.
Palestinian Christianity:
Palestinian Christians, with roots in the early history of Christianity in the Holy Land, have declined over decades due to emigration driven by conflict, economic hardship, and instability. Today, they make up about 1-2% of the population in the West Bank, mainly in areas like Bethlehem and Ramallah.
The Good Friday observance in Gaza highlights the presence of a small but enduring community amid ongoing reconstruction challenges, aid shortages, and a fragile ceasefire. Church leaders and worshippers offered prayers for peace across the region, reflecting on the themes of sacrifice and hope. The gathering at Holy Family Church stands as a symbol of faith persisting in a long-standing conflict zone.