JERUSALEM: Greek Orthodox Patriarch leads Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in front of thousands of worshippers
Record ID:
860342
JERUSALEM: Greek Orthodox Patriarch leads Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in front of thousands of worshippers
- Title: JERUSALEM: Greek Orthodox Patriarch leads Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in front of thousands of worshippers
- Date: 4th May 2013
- Summary: JERUSALEM (MAY 4, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS ARRIVING AT COURTYARD IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE TO CELEBRATE HOLY FIRE CEREMONY VARIOUS OF CHURCH BELL RINGING GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH CARRYING HOLY FIRE TORCHES PEOPLE IN CHURCH WAITING AND APPLAUDING AS HOLY FIRE EMERGES FROM THE TOMB OF JESUS CHRIST GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH CARRYING HOLY FIRE TORCHES PEOPLE CARRYING LIT CANDLES AND PRIEST BEING CARRIED WHILE HOLDING LARGE CANDLES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING LIT CANDLES IN CHURCH VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE CHURCH WHILE HOLDING CANDLES CHURCH BELLS RINGING MORE OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CHURCH AND LIGHTING EACH OTHER'S CANDLES MORE OF LARGE CROWD OUTSIDE OF CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
- Embargoed: 19th May 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem
- City:
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA3ZMGR7CWQCYGIDGC051TC1Q0U
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Thousands of Christian worshippers on Saturday (May 4) celebrated Easter's Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The Holy Fire is considered a miracle occurring every year on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter Sunday.
Thousands of worshippers packed into the ancient church, believed to be built on the site of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, entered the small tomb structure of Jesus at the Holy Sepulchre Church in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday ahead of the anticipated miracle.
At exactly 2pm local time every year, a sunbeam is believed to shine through the window in the ceiling of the church and light a lamp placed in the tomb. Church lights are switched off and the silence of anticipation follows.
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.
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, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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