Jerusalem: Thousands of Christian worshippers celebrate Easter’s Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday (April 11).
Thousands of Christians gathered at Jerusalem to witness Holy Fire
For Orthodox Christians the miracle of the Holy Fire occurs every year on the eve of Orthodox Easter Sunday, when a beam of sunlight pierces through the ceiling of the ancient church at precisely two o’clock. As it falls on the tomb of Jesus Christ, a lamp ignites.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, lights a handful of candles with the holy fire, passes them on to worshippers who light more candles until the church is filled with a sea of shimmering incandescent light.
The church is believed to have been built on the site Jesus, son of the Christian God, was crucified, died and then resurrected.
Ventuno/Reuters