ジョン・スタンメイヤーのインスタグラム(johnstanmeyer) - 11月20日 11時33分

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians praying on Holy Saturday at the Ethiopian Chapel on the roof of Church of the Holy Sepluchre in the Old City in Jerusalem, April 19, 2014, the evening before Easter.

I had the privilege to spend Christmas 2013 and Easter 2014 in both Bethlehem and Jerusalem while on assignment earlier this year for National Geographic. Throughout most of my visit in the Holy Land, I had the privilege to was work with the world famous Jerusalem based photographer who goes by the name of Garo. Garo, in his 70’s but more spry and whimsical then most teenagers I know, has been photographing Easter in the Holy Land for over 50 years. Garo not only knew every key player in these ancient and historically important alleyways, he knew of the most unique religious events.

In a wonderfully deep-rolling Armenian accent, Garo said “John, much happens during Holy Week. I know all place. One you cannot miss — Ethiopian Orthodox
Holy Saturday service. Trust me.” He was right. As night fell, a thousand or more faithful brought out candled, prayed and sang, one of the more poetic and beautifully layered events I was to photograph that week in April.

This photograph was in the final projection at Nat Geo but didn’t make it into the magazine, one of the countless images that fall to the editing floor in the act of storytelling. While I rarely like any photograph I take, this event stands out in this story as a fond memory of kindness, poetic beauty and Garo being completely correct.

Pick up next week a copy of the December 2014 issue of National Geographic magazine of my latest story, “Blessed. Cursed. Claimed”, Part III of the Out of Eden Walk project.

All my best, John Stanmeyer

@thephotosociety #Jerusalem #MiddleEast #EthiopianOrthodox #HolySaturday #Easter #candles #religion @VIIphoto

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