Catholic Easter services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site of Christianity, will be held behind closed doors, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Israeli police prevented prevented Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the church to celebrate a private Mass on the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday.

It was the first time in centuries something of the sort had happened, and Israeli authorities cited security reasons amid the war in the Persian Gulf.

Pizzaballa told journalists that Easter week services will be conducted behind closed doors with one bishop present, while efforts will be made to provide live broadcasts.

Source: Ekathimerini.com