Patriarch Theophilos III: Holy Fire Will Descend in Jerusalem Despite Military Restrictions
Amidst the ongoing conflict and heightened security measures in the Old City, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has given a confident promise: the traditional Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will still take place on April 11, Holy Saturday, on the eve of Orthodox Easter.
During a meeting with the clergy, His Beatitude the Patriarch stated that even if the church doors remain closed to pilgrims and worshippers for security reasons, the sacred ritual will be performed. This was reported by sources in the Jerusalem Patriarchate, and the information was confirmed by leading Russian agencies, including TASS and Izvestia.
“If the situation remains as it is now—that is, the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are closed for security reasons due to the situation in Israel—the Holy Fire ceremony will still take place on Holy Saturday,” representatives of the Patriarchate quoted Patriarch Theophilos III.
This statement has become an important sign of hope for millions of Orthodox Christians around the world who eagerly await this miracle every year—a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. In recent weeks, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been closed to the public due to risks associated with regional tensions, sparking fears of a possible cancellation of the ceremony. However, the Patriarch’s position underscores the steadfastness of spiritual tradition even in the most challenging times.
The ceremony traditionally takes place in the Aedicula (the chapel over the Tomb of the Lord), where the Patriarch of Jerusalem enters with unlit candles and emerges with them lit. This year, the ritual will likely be held in a closed format – with the participation of clergy only, without the mass presence of pilgrims.
