Jerusalem hosts ancient fire ceremony as Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus

Thousands of Christians have gathered in Jerusalem for an ancient fire ceremony that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.

In a ritual dating back at least 1,200 years, they crowded Saturday into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

During the annual ceremony, top Eastern Orthodox clerics enter the Edicule, the small chamber marking the site of Jesus’ tomb.

They then emerge to reveal candles said to be miraculously lit with ‘holy fire’ as a message to the faithful from heaven. The details of the flame’s source are a closely guarded secret.

Roman Catholics and Protestants marked Easter in March, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter this week using the older Julian calendar. The pilgrims, some carrying crosses and others praying, retraced the 14 Stations of the Cross and walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus Christ is believed to be buried.

Hundreds of Israeli security forces were deployed inside the walled Old City, and around the church, which is in Israeliannexed east Jerusalem. Their presence was to regulate the flow of worshippers through the narrow streets rather than to calm fears of potential violence, despite weeks of renewed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Crowds of pilgrims queued to enter the Holy Sepulchre, many scribbling prayers on pieces of paper which they planned to recite inside the church.

One pilgrim, Otyrba Ilojna, 36, of Abkhazia in Georgia said: ‘We pray for the whole community. The Georgian Church does not give us our independence. All here are praying for it.’ Dragan Ilic, 35, who had travelled from Switzerland and was among a group of around 50 Serbians, kept his prayer secret.

But, like all the others, he said the visit was incredibly important to him.

Thousands of pilgrims came from Egypt, which is the only Arab country besides Jordan to have diplomatic relations with Israel even if the ties are often strained.

Christina Salama said: ‘This pilgrimage is not an obligation. But it is the dream of all (Coptic Christian) Egyptians.’

The majority of the Christians in the Holy Land belong to the Orthodox faith but traditionally do not play a major part in the procession.greek Orthodox Patriarch leads Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem.