The strict social distancing measures and the governmental closure of churches to the faithful have led to an increase in the use of technology to transmit church services, as leaders are calling on their parish members to turn their homes into churches.

Attention is focused on Jerusalem, where Passion Week (Holy Week) is celebrated with the carrying of the cross along the 12 stations on the Via Dolorosa in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Good Friday services, the Holy Fire on Saturday, ending with Easter Sunday. The Via Dolorosa is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion.

Father Issa Musleh, spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor that services will be held as usual, albeit with a very small number of priests and no worshippers. “We will use multimedia to transmit the services,” he said.

The one difficult problem will be how the Holy Fire or Holy Light can be transmitted around the world. Orthodox faithful believe that a special flame miraculously lights inside the site of the holy grave of Jesus.