JERUSALEM, Wednesday, March 25, 2020 (WAFA) – Church leaders in Jerusalem decided today to shut down the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his tomb, following concern of the spread of coronavirus pandemic only few weeks before the Easter celebrations.

The closure, nevertheless, is for one week that could be extended, reported Reuters, which quoted officials saying the church will close as of this evening.

Easter celebrations for the Catholic church start the second week of April and are mainly concentrated at the Holy Sepulcher and in Jerusalem‘s Old City and reach a climax with the Good Friday procession before Easter Sunday.

The Orthodox church celebrates Easter a week after.

M.K.