Christian Faithful Near And Far Celebrate Palm Sunday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Christians around the world commemorated Palm Sunday, kicking off the most sacred week on their calendar.

WLNY TV 10/55's Reena Roy saw firsthand how worshippers in our area took part.

With palms and instruments in hand, dozens took to the streets in downtown Manhattan to remember Jesus' last days before he was crucified.

"It feels very exciting and nice because, like, we're all together marching with big leaves in our hands," Kiara Tonovan said.

From St. Paul's Chapel on Fulton Street to Trinity Church on Wall Street, even the smallest of New Yorkers participated, walking a few blocks downtown on Broadway.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. It comes to an end with a big celebration on Easter Sunday.

"This is the big lead-up to what we are as Christians, knowing that there's life after death and the beauty of it as a community," worshipper Vicki Tonovan said.

"The crowd marching along with palms and with leaves celebrating and singing, so basically what we're doing is commemorating this tradition of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem," said Rev. Mark Bozzuti-Jones of Trinity Church.

And further uptown at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, held a special mass to bless the palms.

"This palm represents triumph, victory, and acclaim ... as Jesus was greeted with the palms in his victorious entrance to Jerusalem," Dolan said.

Many said Palm Sunday is lifelong tradition they wouldn't miss for the world, even while visiting just for the weekend.

"It means a lot because St. Patrick's Cathedral is iconic. No matter what church I go into, Catholic church, we're all community," tourist Maryanne Cook said.

"We're from Kansas. We decided to come to the beautiful cathedral and take in Pam Sunday," Shelly Schneider added.

Celebrations that will continue throughout the most sacred week on the Christian calendar.