2007年VOA标准英语-Thousands Observe Good Friday on Jerusalem's Vi

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
06 April 2007

Christians² around the world are marking Good Friday, the day of Jesus' crucifixion. There was a big turnout for the traditional observance in Jerusalem, as we hear in this VOA report from Robert Berger who was on-scene.

Jerusalem's Old City was awash with Christian¹ worshippers who joined in the Good Friday procession.

Four men have hoisted³ a big wooden cross on their shoulders as they lead a group of pilgrims down the narrow cobblestone streets here on the Via Dolorosa-the Way of Sorrows. They are among thousands of pilgrims retracing⁴ the footsteps of Jesus to the 14 Stations of the Cross. They have come from all over the world, including India, the Philippines and Poland.

John Lee came from the American state of Michigan.

"Well, it's incredible to be here where it all happened, where the Lord walked, to be seeing people from every nation and tribe and tongue coming back here, so many faith traditions, all walking the same road that He walked," he said.

Israeli troops armed with assault rifles guarded the route, but that didn't seem to faze the pilgrims. Lee told VOA that he felt safe in the Holy City.

"I feel like compared to some of the hometowns in Michigan, like Detroit, I would rather walk the streets of Jerusalem on an afternoon than some of the streets in Detroit. So I wouldn't say it's that much more dangerous than any other major city of the world," said Lee.

Hugh Speakman, who is from U.S. state of Colorado, saw the procession within the context of current events.

Sepulcher5, traditionally believed to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during the Good Friday procession and the Way of the Cross, in Jerusalem's Old City" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070530/1107400.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Catholic pilgrims carry a large cross in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during the Good Friday procession and the Way of the Cross, in Jerusalem's Old City

"It's nice to be here. Again, we remember the situation that is happening right now in the land, all the people, you know, on both sides that are suffering. So I think if Jesus were here today that's who he would be spending His time with-you know the Jewish people and the Palestinian people," said Speakman.

It was the best turnout in years thanks to a relative lull⁶ in violence and the fact that the calendars of the five major Christian denominations⁷ coincide this year.

The procession ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of Jesus' crucifixion. On Easter Sunday, Christians will gather in the same church to celebrate the resurrection. 

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

3 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

4 retracing   

v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯

参考例句：

• We're retracing the route of a deep explorer mission. 我们将折回一个深入的探险路线中去。 来自电影对白
• Retracing my steps was certainly not an option. 回顾我的脚步并不是个办法。 来自互联网

5 sepulcher   

n.坟墓

参考例句：

• He said softly,as if his voice were coming from a sepulcher.他幽幽说道，象是从坟墓里传来的声音。
• Let us bend before the venerated sepulcher.让我们在他神圣的墓前鞠躬致敬。

6 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
• Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。

7 denominations   

n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• The service was attended by Christians of all denominations. 这次礼拜仪式各教派的基督徒都参加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》