![]() When the church wardens were about to fill the lamps to make them ready to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, they suddenly noticed that there was no more oil left to pour in the lamps. The historian Eusebius writes in his Life of Constantine, which dates from around 328 AD, about an interesting occurrence in Jerusalem of Easter in the year 162. ![]() The Holy Fire is taken to Greece by special flight, and similarly to other Orthodox countries or countries with major Orthodox churches, such as Syria, Georgia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Romania, Egypt, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia, being received by church and state leaders. Thousands of pilgrims as well as local Christians of all denominations gather in Jerusalem to partake and witness this annual event. When the fire is lit, the Patriarch comes out of the church with two lit candles. īefore the fire is lit, the Patriarch kneels inside the chapel in front of the stone, with crowds gathered outside. Pilgrims and clergy say that the Holy Fire does not burn them. The fire is also said to spontaneously light other lamps and candles around the church. This fire is then used to light the candles of the clergy and pilgrims in attendance. The light is believed to form a column of fire, from which candles are lit. The marble slab is now in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. ![]() During this time, blue light is said to emit within Jesus' tomb, rising from the marble slab covering the stone bed believed to be that upon which Jesus' body is to have been placed for burial. Orthodox tradition holds that the Holy Fire happens annually on the day preceding Orthodox Pascha ( Orthodox Easter). Despite the controversy, the Holy Fire continues to be an important religious event for many Orthodox Christians.ĭescription from within the Orthodox faith Various Greek Orthodox clergy members have admitted to igniting the Holy Fire using non-miraculous means, while others claim that the tradition was invented by Catholic crusaders and continued by the Greek Orthodox Church. The Holy Fire has faced criticism and opposition throughout history, with some accusing it of being a fraud. The tradition dates back to at least 328 AD, as mentioned by historian Eusebius, and is celebrated by Orthodox Christians from various countries. The Holy Fire is then used to light candles of the clergy and pilgrims present. Ī blue light is believed to emit from Jesus' tomb, forming a column of fire from which candles are lit. However, the authenticity of the miracle has long been disputed. In Orthodox Christian belief, the Holy Fire ( Greek: Ἃγιον Φῶς, " Holy Light", Armenian: Սուրբ Լոյս) is a proposed miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Great Saturday, the day before Orthodox Easter.
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