Holy Fire said to be from Jesus’ tomb travels from Jerusalem to Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. — A fire is burning in the “unsleeping lamp” at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Wichita, a fire that Orthodox Christians believe is tied to a miracle and the resurrection of Christ.
It’s the first time the Holy Fire has made its way to Wichita — and the first confirmed time that the flame, believed to have originated in Jesus’ tomb, has made it from Jerusalem to the United States.
Carried from Jerusalem to New York in a private plane, the Holy Fire is now being taken to Orthodox churches across the United States by priests and parishioners.
For Wichitan Matthew Ash, bringing the fire from Stillwater, Okla., to St. George meant surrounding four candles with potting soil in a large stock pot — then driving carefully, trying not to slosh wax over the flames.
“It’s like a mini pilgrimage,” Ash said. “It’s a prayerful time in the car when you’re with the Holy Fire driving hundreds of miles. For me that’s something I’ll always carry with me. It’s a pilgrimage for the people who are delivering it, it’s a pilgrimage for the people who are coming to see the Holy Fire.”
Ash, like other Orthodox Christians, believes the fire he carried from Stillwater to Wichita originated in a miracle in Christ’s tomb.
Every year, the patriarch of Jerusalem, one of the leaders of the Eastern Orthodox Church, goes into the tomb on the day before Easter. According to church tradition, fire rises out of the stone on which Jesus’ body laid. At first, the fire is said to be cool enough to touch, although it later acts like ordinary flame.
The patriarch lights candles, then returns outside the tomb where the fire is used to light other candles and lanterns.
Ash brought the fire from Stillwater to Wichita on May 7. It had reached Stillwater from Independence, Mo.
Since the fire landed in New York in April, it has been taken to all but a handful of states. Orthodox Christians coordinate via Facebook and a Google map to arrange meet-ups to light their candles and lanterns. Some carry candles in car cup-holders or buckets of sand.
There’s a plan for the fire to reach San Francisco by June 10; churches in Alaska and in Cuba have also requested the flame.
While the fire is usually taken across Eurasia by pilgrims, this is the first year that a group called St. Andrew the FirstCalled Foundation has chartered a private plane to bring it to the United States and London. The Moscow-based organization has flown the fire from Israel to Russia since 2003, according to USA Today.
When Ash finally reached St. George in Wichita, it was shortly before the cathedral’s Sunday service ended. He had to park far from the church on a windy day.
The first candle he tried to carry to the church was snuffed out by the wind. He took it back to the car and relit it — only to have it snuffed out a second time. On his third trip, Ash made it into the church with the candle of Holy Fire and was able to light the lamps in the church.
On his way home, all four candles in his car went out.
“I took it as God saving me from being too prideful of having the Holy Fire in my home,” Ash said.
For the Rev. Paul O’Callaghan, dean of St. George, having the sanctuary lamp burning with the Holy Fire provides a “sense of connectedness to the physical site of the resurrection of Christ.”
The church also has water from the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized, that is mixed with other water for baptisms. It has wine from the town of Cana in Galilee, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, that is mixed into the cup of wine given at weddings.
Although O’Callaghan thinks the Holy Fire could possibly have made it to the United States before, he’s never heard of it coming to the Wichita area. This year there seems to be a greater passion for spreading it from believer to believer than in the past, he said.
“It’s not something in itself that’s holy or that has some mystical power or anything of that nature,” O’Callaghan said. “It’s a phenomenon that symbolizes our faith in Christ’s resurrection, the light of the empty tomb and our unity throughout the orthodox world in confessing Christ’s resurrection.”
Bear Creek Church hosts Fun Factory, summer camp
LODI — Bear Creek Community Church will be hosting Vacation Bible School for children from age 4 through sixth grade. The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from June 19 to 23.
This year’s theme is Maker Fun Factory. Activities will include crafts, Bible lessons, music, games and more. A barbecue and movie night will be June 23.
The church will also host a day camp for students from age 6 through eighth grade. The camp will run for eight weeks, from Monday through July 28.
Campers will enjoy fun and games, crafts, sports, skits, devotional music, friendships, weekly field trips and swimming.
For more information, call 209-951-9229 or visit
Emanuel Lutheran hosts Operation Arctic
LODI — Emanuel Lutheran Church’s theme for the upcoming Vacation Bible School is Operation Arctic. There will be crafts, science, outside games, story times and more.
Jim Elliot Christian High students will lead music and act out scenes to involve and entertain children in the community. Children ages 4 to 12 are welcome to participate.
VBS is June 12 to 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is $10 per child or $25 max per family. For more information, call 209-334-2152 or visit
First Baptist hosts Maker Fun Factory
LODI — From June 19 to 23, First Baptist Church of Lodi will host its Maker Fun Factory Vacation Bible School. Students will become hands-on inventors and apply what they learn to their understanding of God the creator.
Camp will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Campers from pre-kindergarten (age 4) to sixth grade are welcome.
For more information, call 209-334-1332 or visit
Faith Community holding Vacation Bible School
ACAMPO — Faith Community Church in Acampo is holding Vacation Bible School from June 12 to 16, for kids age 3 to kindergarten. A second session for first through sixth graders will be held from June 19 to 23. The theme will be “Operation Arctic.”
Vacation Bible School will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each week. Activities will include songs, crafts, games, goodies, lunch and more.
For more information, call the church office at 209-3337089 or visit
Vacation Bible School at Christ Lutheran Church
LODI — Come climb with us! The theme of Vacation Bible School at Christ Lutheran will be “The Height of Jesus’ Love.” Activities will include Bible stories, climbing and team building activities, songs, crafts, games and snacks.
Vacation Bible School will be held from 9 a.m. to noon from June 12 to 15. Children ages 4 to 11 are invited to attend. To register, visit
or call 209-368-6250.
Christ Lutheran is located at 13009 N. Elderberry Court, Lodi.
St. Anne’s to host Maker Fun Factory
LODI — St. Anne’s Catholic Church and School will host a Maker Fun Factory Vacation Bible School from June 12 to 16. Each day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m.
The camp, for ages 5 to 13, will travel through Jesus’ childhood and explore the theme “Created by God, Built for a Purpose.”
For more information, call Sister Azecena at 209-369-1907 or visit
St. Paul Lutheran to host Vacation Bible School
LODI — St. Paul Lutheran Church will offer Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from June 12 to 16.
For more information or to register, call 209-368-2747 or visit
St. Peter Lutheran Church hosts Fun Factory
LODI — Join St. Peter Lutheran for a morning of crafts, snacks, games and a Bible-based story each day from June 12 to 16. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and is open to children ages 4 to 11.
This is a free event open to the community, but space is limited and registration is required.
For more information or to register, call 209-333-2223 or visit
Galt Bible Church to host Vacation Bible School
GALT — Children from age 3 to sixth grade are invited to attend Vacation Bible School at Galt Bible Church. VBS will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. from June 26 to 30.
There is no cost, and registration is on site.
For more information, call 209-745-1307 or visit