March 20, 2002

Marthame assists with the imposition of ashes at the Latin Church.

A rough cross decorated for the beginning of Lent.

Today is Arba'a al-Rimad (Ash Wednesday), the first day of Lent. Since the churches in Zababdeh celebrate Christmas on the Western calendar, Easter (and Lent as a result) is celebrated on the Eastern calendar. There were two Masses today at the Latin Church of Visitation, the first being for the school. Marthame and Abuna Aktham both administered the imposition of ashes (which, for about 500 people, took quite a while).

A detail from today’s prayer book.

Preparations also continue for the 'Eid al-Um (Mother's Day) party tomorrow. Some people are upset, claiming that it is disrespectful to those who have died in the Intifada (or, as some are calling it now, the Palestinian War of Independence) to have a celebration in the midst of the tragedies. Most people, however, see it quite differently - part of the celebration will be in honor of the mothers of those who have been killed during the Intifada. Today was the final dress rehearsal. The sound system is much better than last year's, and Marthame has been doubling both as a guitarist and as engineer (seven years of college radio have finally paid off).