Holy Week - The seven days before Easter
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Hooded Filipino penitents perform rituals including flagellating one another in front of an image of Jesus Christ during Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2014, in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines. The ritual is frowned upon by church leaders in this predominantly Roman Catholic country. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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Hooded Filipino penitents flagellate during Maundy Thursday rituals to atone for sins on April 17, 2014, in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines. The ritual is frowned upon by church leaders in this predominantly Roman Catholic country. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
- 3/27
A hooded Filipino penitent has two pointed wooden sticks tied to his arms as he joins others in Maundy Thursday rituals to atone for sins on April 17, 2014 in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines. The bizarre ritual is frowned upon by church leaders in this predominantly Roman Catholic country. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
- 4/27
Devotee grimaces as he prays outside a chapel during a Maundy Thursday ritual by penitents to atone for sins in Angeles
REUTERS - 5/27
Masked flagellant lies prostrate on the ground as he prays outside a chapel during a Maundy Thursday ritual by penitents to atone for sins in Angeles
REUTERS - 6/27
Man whips a devotee during a Maundy Thursday ritual by penitents to atone for sins in Angeles
REUTERS - 7/27
Masked devotee prays outside a chapel during a Maundy Thursday ritual by penitents to atone for sins in Angeles
REUTERS - 8/27
Flagellants lie prostrate on the ground as the pray outside a chapel during a Maundy Thursday ritual by penitents to atone for sins in Angeles
REUTERS - 9/27
Devotees cover their heads with leaves during a Maundy Thursday ritual by penitents to atone for sins in Angeles
REUTERS - 10/27
Palm fronds weaved into crosses lay for sale at a Palm Sunday Mass in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
- 11/27
A Filipino boy participates in Palm Sunday rites outside the Holy Family Parish Church in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and ushers in the Holy Week observance among Catholics worldwide. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
- 12/27
Penitents take part in the procession during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spanish devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
- 13/27
The three years old Thomas Haitzmann eats a "Palmbrezeln" after a Palm Sunday procession in Lofer, Austrian province of Salzburg, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday opens the Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday, the most important Christian holiday. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
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Residents carry traditionally hand made palms during a Palm Sunday procession in Lofer, Austrian province of Salzburg, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday opens the Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday, the most important Christian holiday. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
- 15/27
An Indian Christian girl holds a cross made of blessed palm during a Palm Sunday mass at a church in Bhubaneswar, India, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday's liturgy recalls Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)
- 16/27
Egyptians celebrate Palm Sunday during a service in the Samaan el-Kharaz Church in the Mokattam district of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians worldwide, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Roger Anis, El Shorouk) EGYPT OUT
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An elderly woman lights a fire in a cemetery during a Palm Sunday memorial for the departed in Herasti, southern Romania, early Sunday, April 13, 2014. Orthodox believers in the village gather at midnight, light fires at the graves and share food in memory of their dead relatives. This year the country's Orthodox majority celebrates Easter along with the Catholics on April 20.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
- 18/27
A Guardia Civil takes part in the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood in Oviedo
REUTERS - 19/27
A penitent receives a kiss before the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood in Oviedo
REUTERS - 20/27
A parishioner weaves Palm fronds into a cross during Palm Sunday mass at Our Lady of Charity Church in Miami, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
- 21/27
Penitents place a statue of Jesus Christ on top of a float during the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood in Oviedo
REUTERS - 22/27
A woman prays during a Palm Sunday procession in the San Mateo neighborhood of Mexico City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
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People hold up palm fronds during a Palm Sunday procession outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
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A woman holds palm fronds made into the shape of a cross during a Palm Sunday celebration outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
- 25/27
A faithful holds a flag with a picture of Pope Francis as the Pope leads the Palm Sunday mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican
Reuters - 26/27
Pope Francis leads the Palm Sunday mass at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican
Reuters - 27/27
A woman stands by a fire she lit near a grave in the village of Copaciu, southern Romania, early Thursday, April 17, 2014. Part of a Holy Week tradition, Romanians visit, on Maundy Thursday, the graves of their loved ones, light fires and share food with community members in memory of the departed. Orthodox and Catholic worshipers celebrate Easter on on April 20.(AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru/ Mediafax) ROMANIA OUT
According to the Christian year, the seven days before Easter Sunday are regarded as Holy Week. It begins with Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, which commemorates the entry of the Messiah to Jerusalem. Faithful Christians take out processions holding palm leaves or clusters of olive branches. The next three days are known as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday. On Holy Monday, the Gospel tells of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany; on Holy Tuesday it recalls the foretelling of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot and Peter's denial of Jesus; on Holy Wednesday the Gospel retells Judas' arranging the betrayal of Jesus with the high priests. Maundy Thursday observes the Last Supper of Jesus, the Holy Communion, with the Twelve Apostles. Good Friday observes the day of Jesus' crucifixion. On Holy Saturday, the following day, the church does not observe Mass but awaits at the symbolic tomb and begins the Easter Vigil. Holy Week officially ends before Easter Sunday, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
These pictures from around the world portray various aspects of Holy Week.