How did Holy Week ceremonies first develop in Jerusalem?

In the 4th century, the Church of Jerusalem pioneered the development of dramatic Holy Week ceremonies by organizing observances at the specific holy sites within its neighborhood associated with the events of Jesus’ Passion.1

This practice of commemorating the final events of Jesus' life at their traditional locations—such as the Palm Sunday procession and the Good Friday veneration of the cross—eventually spread from Jerusalem to other churches. Much of our detailed knowledge regarding these early liturgical activities comes from the Peregrinatio Etheriae, an account written by a Spanish nun (likely named Etheria) near the end of the 4th century, which describes the daily and annual religious life in the city.12