Easter Week at St. Nikolas Church started with Palm Sunday and ran through the day of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, with sermons and activities for Roman Catholics, Christians and Buddhists alike.
Fronds were given out March 20, symbolizing the day when Christ came to Jerusalem, hailed by a crowd waving with palm leaves to welcome him. The fronds were blessed during mass and believers put the leaves behind the crucifix in their houses.
Palm leaves “Made in Thailand”.
On Holy Thursday – March 24 – the church commemorated the Last Supper with washing of the feet, blessing of the bread, and the Blessed Sacrament.
On Good Friday, people came together for the commemoration of the Passion of Christ, starting with a walk around the church and stopping on each of the 14 Stations of the Cross for prayers. Many people carried in turn a large wooden cross. Later during mass, the veneration of the cross was celebrated.
Holy Saturday saw the Easter vigil, the blessing of the Paschal Candle and the blessing of the Easter eggs and holy water.
Pastor Philipp prays with believers at one of the Stations of the Cross.
Finally on Easter Sunday, March 27, believers celebrated solemnly the resurrection of Christ. At the end of the mass everybody received one Easter egg, a bottle of holy water and blessings by the priests.
Some people carry the cross in memory of the Passion of Christ.
Pastor Philipp (right) and Father John (left) distribute Easter eggs to the believers in the church.
Easter eggs are waiting for the many people who celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
