Holy Fire Ceremony

[thephilosopher6]

Every year Eastern Orthodox have this ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Easter where they light a bunch of candle and I guess a light appears and many claim it is the Holy Spirit. I don’t know that much about it. But anyway, what are Catholics to think of this? And I know most years western Easter and eastern Easter don’t always match up. But when they do, do other Christians attend this ceremony?

 

[crystal_waters]

Every year Eastern Orthodox have this ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Easter where they light a bunch of candle and I guess a light appears and many claim it is the Holy Spirit. I don’t know that much about it. But anyway, what are Catholics to think of this? And I know most years western Easter and eastern Easter don’t always match up. But when they do, do other Christians attend this ceremony?

I’ve heard of it before…if you type holy fire into youtube theres plenty of videos of the holy fire ceremony

 

[GEddie]

Reportedly, during Liturgy on Orthodox Easter, a ball of fire emerges from our LORD’s tomb in the Holy Sepulchre and lights the Metropolitan’s candle, which is then used to light everybody else’s. The fire is said to be miraculous.

While I don’t know whether non-Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem would be allowed to take part, I’d imagine that the premises would be too crowded.

ICXC NIKA

 

[thephilosopher6]

Oh, ok. That’s what happens. I watched a video on YouTube and noticed Armenian Apostolic clergy. So perhaps it is permissible for other kinds of Christians to attend.

 

[SyroMalankara]

The process is that there is a Muslim custodian, an Israeli guard, the Armenian Patriarch as second to receive the Holy Fire and the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem that initially goes into the space.

 

[prodromos]

Anyone can attend, but I imagine it gets a little crowded. Its not like they have face control at the entrance checking what kind of cross you have hanging around your neck.

holyfire.org/eng/