A strange and powerful rhythm echoed across the ancient stones of Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. There were no drums, no trumpets — only the sharp, resonant sound of wood striking stone. The noise was steady, ritualistic, and completely unexpected. It silenced conversations and drew the attention of tourists, shopkeepers, and passersby alike
Out of the arched entrance came a group of Christian monks and clergy, dressed in long black robes and holding wooden staffs, walking solemnly in a tight formation. In their hands they carried not only crosses, but echoes of centuries-old traditions. It looked less like a public parade and more like a vision from the past — a medieval ritual alive in the present
A City of Living Rituals
For those watching, it was a reminder that Jerusalem isn’t just a historical destination. It’s a living city of sacred routines, many of which remain hidden from the everyday visitor. The marching monks, members of a long-standing religious order in the Old City, were performing a spiritual procession — not for show, but for prayer
The staffs they carried — called semantaria — once served as substitutes for church bells in times when such sounds were banned. Their robes symbolize humility; their red hats (kalymmavkia) represent devotion and sacrifice. These are not costumes, but sacred garments
Video: Christian monks walk through Jaffa Gate in a solemn religious procession, carrying wooden staffs and chanting liturgical hymns
(Video: Jerusalem Online – Bari Shahar)
Sacred Steps in a Tense City
What made this moment even more poignant was its location. The very streets where these monks marched have recently been the scene of tension and hostility. Several incidents in the past year involved clergy being spat on or harassed while wearing their traditional garments. The video captured this week shows them walking again — heads held high, silent but powerful, their rhythm unwavering
A Hidden World in Plain Sight
In a world of noise, speed, and distraction, this quiet moment invited reflection. What draws a person to a life of monastic simplicity? What keeps ancient traditions alive in a city defined by friction? And perhaps most importantly: what does it say about faith — that it continues, even when met with contempt
Perhaps, hidden behind Jerusalem’s stone walls, there is still something we’ve forgotten — a kind of strength in ritual, in silence, in mystery
