Posted on 04/18/2009 8:58:00 AM PDT by pobeda1945
Thousands of Orthodox Christians converged on Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.
The Old City was jammed with pilgrims from the eastern Orthodox faiths including Greeks, Copts, Russians and Assyrians, seeking to reach the church, one of Christianity's holiest sites.
For believers, the Greek Orthodox patriarch enters the Holy Sepulchre, recites special prayers and waits in the darkened church at Jesus' tomb for the Holy Fire to light an oil lamp.
The light is then passed out to the waiting crowd by means of candles.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said about 10,000 worshippers were crammed inside and another 30,000 remained outside the church, built on the sites where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. — AFP Thousands of Orthodox Christians converged on Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.
The Old City was jammed with pilgrims from the eastern Orthodox faiths including Greeks, Copts, Russians and Assyrians, seeking to reach the church, one of Christianity's holiest sites.
For believers, the Greek Orthodox patriarch enters the Holy Sepulchre, recites special prayers and waits in the darkened church at Jesus' tomb for the Holy Fire to light an oil lamp.
The light is then passed out to the waiting crowd by means of candles.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said about 10,000 worshippers were crammed inside and another 30,000 remained outside the church, built on the sites where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. — AFP
My wife and kids are stoked that Pascha is finally here again. We just finished decorating our candles, and my wife is preparing dishes for the feast afterwards. My son is going to be an altar server tonight too. Our church also just baptised 15 more converts today. What a glorious Pascha this is! God willing, someday we will make it to Jerusalem for this holy day.
Christos anesti!
Alithos anesti!
Alithos anesti!
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