Today in Jerusalem the Holy Light, known in the West as Holy Fire, once
again descended into the Tomb of Christ as Patriarch Theophilos of
Jerusalem knelt in prayer within the Holy Sepulchre. This ceremony has
taken place just about every year for hundreds of years on Holy
Saturday, shortly after 2:30pm. With 33 candles in
each hand he distributed the Holy Light to the many present. This year, as opposed to last year, coronovirus measures were lifted, allowing for greater participation of the people. Following
the Holy Light ceremony, the flame is taken
by plane to other Orthodox
communities in countries such as Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia,
Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania. In Greece the Holy Light is usually
received with the welcome of a Head of State.
