The Miracle of The Holy Fire at Jerusalem 2023

Orthodox believers around the world each year wait in anticipation of the yearly miracle of the Holy Fire during Orthodox Pascha as celebrated by Christians in Jerusalem.  For nearly two thousand years, the faithful have gathered on the day before Holy Pascha in the Church of The Holy Sepulcher to experience this yearly miracle.

Although Wikipedia is somewhat dismissive of the veracity of this event, it’s description of this miracle as reported from the Orthodox Faith is as follows:

“Orthodox tradition holds that the Holy Fire happens annually on the day preceding Orthodox Pascha (Orthodox Easter). 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. The marble slab is now in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem. The light is believed to form a column of fire, from which candles are lit. This fire is then used to light the candles of the clergy and pilgrims in attendance. The fire is also said to spontaneously light other lamps and candles around the church.  Pilgrims and clergy say that the Holy Fire does not burn them.

Before the fire is lit, the Patriarch kneels inside the chapel in front of the stone, with crowds gathered outside. When the fire is lit, the Patriarch comes out of the church with two lit candles.  Thousands of pilgrims as well as local Christians of all denominations gather in Jerusalem to partake and witness this annual event.

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.”

This fifty minute video shows the zeal and excitement of Orthodox believers who gather to behold this yearly miracle and to declare joyfully that “Christ Is Risen!”

If you would like to view this video from your own YouTube account the link is:  https://youtu.be/MzAdFfvHX6w