Thousands of Christians in Jerusalem for Orthodox Easter ‘Holy Fire’ rite
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the rite takes place, was built over the site where Christian tradition says Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected
- This year’s ceremony comes after deadly attacks and clashes in Israel, east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank
Thousands of Christians thronged Jerusalem on Saturday for the traditional Holy Fire rite ahead of the Orthodox Easter, despite a security clampdown in the holy city.
The ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the thousand-year-old rite takes place, was built over the site where Christian tradition says Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected.
The ceremony, when a flame which the faithful believe sparks miraculously each year is brought from the tomb, marks the most important event in the Orthodox calendar.
Clutching candles, so the flame can be passed from one to another, pilgrims attended the church this year in reduced numbers.
The church is in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, and for the second consecutive year Israeli police had told church leaders access would be considerably restricted.
In the past about 10,000 worshippers would fill the church, with many more crowding outside, before the flame was flown to Orthodox communities internationally.
This year’s ceremony also comes after deadly attacks and clashes in Israel, east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, and cross-border fire several days ago between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria.
