Thousands of pilgrims mark Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

Catholic priests carry palm fronds at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's old city, Sunday, April 14, 2019. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

A christian pilgrim looks as Catholic priests carry palm fronds at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's old city, Sunday, April 14, 2019. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

JERUSALEM – Thousands of Christian pilgrims are taking part in Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem at the start of the Christian Holy Week.

Worshippers carried palm fronds and olive branches on Sunday and marched from the top of the Mount of Olives to the Old City of Jerusalem. Israeli police say an estimated 15,000 people took part in the procession.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus's entry into Jerusalem and is the start of the church's most solemn week, which includes the Good Friday re-enactment of Jesus's crucifixion and death and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The procession made its way from the Mount of Olives past the Garden of Gethsemane where, according to Biblical tradition, Jesus was betrayed, then finally into the alleyways of the Old City.