MIDDLE EAST: Candle light vigils in Jerusalem and Bethlehem ahead of Easter Sunday

Record ID: 737828

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Candle light vigils in Jerusalem and Bethlehem ahead of Easter Sunday
  • Date: 4th April 2010
  • Summary: CHURCH STAINED GLASS WINDOW CHURCH MASS AS SEEN FROM THE BACK
  • Embargoed: 19th April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACDVHBI5QB28ZXH02KS3ZTBOPK
  • Story Text: Ethiopian Christians hold annual Holy Saturday Easter ceremony on top of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Christians hold candle light vigil ahead of Easter Sunday at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus.
    Hundreds of Ethiopian Christians celebrated Holy Saturday (April 03) with an Easter ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, believed to be built on the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
    Worshippers stood, chanted and danced.
    They later lit candles carrying the Holy Fire.
    The fire was later distributed to all worshippers outside the Church.
    Scores of Christians attended a traditional candle light vigil ahead of Easter Sunday in the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus.
    The worshippers gathered outside the church, where they lit candles.
    Afterwards, worshippers lit each other's candles and watched a procession of clergymen entering the church.
    Inside the church, people in the crowd held candles and chanted while clergymen conducted the ceremony on the altar.
    Earlier on Saturday, the Holy Fire ceremony took place inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Thousands of Christian worshippers from several sects participated in the ceremony, considered a miracle occurring every year on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Easter.
    The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem enters the small tomb structure of Jesus at the Holy Sepulchre Church. At precisely 2pm local time, a sun beam is believed to shine through the window in the ceiling of the church, and light a lamp placed in the tomb.
    The Patriarch then lit a few candles with the holy fire, and passed them on to worshippers inside the church.
    Seconds after the Orthodox patriarch revealed the Holy Fire, it spread throughout the church as worshippers lit each other's candles.
    In past centuries, worshippers were expected to bring the flame back to their villages around Russia and Eastern Europe.
    Traditionally, an olive lamp lit by the "Holy Fire" is transferred soon after the ceremony to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, where Jesus is believed to be born.
    The Easter holiday culminates on Easter Sunday when Christians believe Jesus rises from the dead, three days after being crucified.
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