- Title: WEST BANK: Christians in Bethlehem welcome Holy Fire
- Date: 19th April 2014
- Summary: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (APRIL 19, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MARCHING BAND VARIOUS OF CHRISTIANS CELEBRATING ARRIVAL OF HOLY FIRE IN BETHLEHEM MAN HOLDING HOLY FIRE DURING CELEBRATIONS WOMEN CHEERING MORE OF CELEBRATIONS MEN HOLDING HOLY FIRE, MAN SHOOTING FIREWORKS MORE OF HOLY FIRE HEAD OF ORTHODOX CHURCH IN BETHLEHEM HOLDING HOLY FIRE MORE OF CELEBRATIONS
- Embargoed: 4th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA68VE4S1X3HATCXG4ZLGJ8XV74
- Story Text: Christians in the West Bank city of Bethlehem welcome arrival of the Holy Fire with street celebrations.
Hundreds of Palestinian Christian worshippers on Saturday (April 19) celebrated Easter's Holy Fire ceremony in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The Holy Fire is considered a miracle and occurs every year on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Easter Sunday.
Hundreds of worshippers packed the narrow streets of Bethlehem, the believed birthplace of Jesus waiting for the Holy Fire torch to arrive from Jerusalem.
Earlier in the day, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilos III, entered the small tomb structure of Jesus at the Holy Sepulchre Church in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Around 2 pm local time, a sunbeam is believed to shine through the window in the ceiling of the church and light a lamp placed in the tomb.
The Patriarch then lights a few candles with the Holy Fire, and passes them on to worshippers inside the church.
Seconds after the Orthodox patriarch reveals the Holy Fire, it is rapidly spread throughout the church as worshippers light each other's candles. The fire is then passed on to the worshippers who are waiting outside.
Traditionally, an olive lamp lit by the "Holy Fire" is transferred soon after the ceremony to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, and other Christian cities and villages.
In past centuries, worshippers were expected to bring the flame back to their villages around Russia and Eastern Europe. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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