• Boy scouts carry a float with a girl dressed as Disney character Snow White during a procession for Palm Sunday at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in the Qasaa district of the Syrian capital Damascus. AFP
    Boy scouts carry a float with a girl dressed as Disney character Snow White during a procession for Palm Sunday at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in the Qasaa district of the Syrian capital Damascus. AFP
  • Boy scouts beat drums as they participate in a Palm Sunday procession in the Dwelaa area of Damascus. AFP
    Boy scouts beat drums as they participate in a Palm Sunday procession in the Dwelaa area of Damascus. AFP
  • Boy and girl scouts march with palm fronds during the procession in Dwelaa. AFP
    Boy and girl scouts march with palm fronds during the procession in Dwelaa. AFP
  • Worshippers attend a Palm Sunday service at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Umm Al Noor in Erbil in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. AFP
    Worshippers attend a Palm Sunday service at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Umm Al Noor in Erbil in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. AFP
  • A choir sings during the church service in Erbil. AFP
    A choir sings during the church service in Erbil. AFP
  • A child watches as people attend a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. The number of worshippers was limited because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters
    A child watches as people attend a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. The number of worshippers was limited because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters
  • A young Coptic Orthodox Christian wears a hat made of knitted palm fronds as worshippers circle the Edicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the place where it is believed Jesus Christ was buried. AFP
    A young Coptic Orthodox Christian wears a hat made of knitted palm fronds as worshippers circle the Edicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the place where it is believed Jesus Christ was buried. AFP
  • An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian uses her phone, which bears the image of the Virgin Mary with Jesus, to film proceedings during Palm Sunday celebrations outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
    An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian uses her phone, which bears the image of the Virgin Mary with Jesus, to film proceedings during Palm Sunday celebrations outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
  • An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian wears a palm frond knitted into the shape of a cross outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
    An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian wears a palm frond knitted into the shape of a cross outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
  • Christian pilgrims touch the Stone of Anointing and pray during the Palm Sunday procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. About 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world observe Holy Week. EPA
    Christian pilgrims touch the Stone of Anointing and pray during the Palm Sunday procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. About 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world observe Holy Week. EPA
  • Greek Orthodox clergymen attend the procession in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday in when many churches symbolically mark the biblical account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. EPA
    Greek Orthodox clergymen attend the procession in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday in when many churches symbolically mark the biblical account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. EPA
  • Worshippers sit apart during a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
    Worshippers sit apart during a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
  • A worshipper attends Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    A worshipper attends Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. AFP
  • Christians gather to mark Palm Sunday at the Church of the Nativity in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    Christians gather to mark Palm Sunday at the Church of the Nativity in the occupied West Bank. AFP

MENA

Orthodox Christians mark Palm Sunday in the Middle East - in pictures

Worshippers took part in events to celebrate the start of Orthodox Easter

The National

April 26, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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What is Genes in Space?

Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.

It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration. 

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

While you're here

IF YOU GO
 
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
 
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info

 Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.

The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5

Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder /  3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

WorldMENA