Egypt Daily News – The “Holy Fire” procession began on Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, attended by a large number of faithful who gathered to witness the moment of the appearance of the “Holy Fire.”
According to sources in Jerusalem, the religious procession, known as the “Holy Fire,” was led by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The appearance of the “Blessed Fire” takes place on the eve of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to the Julian calendar. In 2025, Christians will celebrate Easter on April 20, and this year it coincides on the same date for both the Eastern and Western churches.
The fire is believed to miraculously appear in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the site where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried.
A delegation from the Russian “St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation” arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to take part in the annual Holy Saturday celebrations.
Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, told Sputnik that the Russian delegation is visiting Jerusalem for the 23rd consecutive time and had warm meetings with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who praised the foundation’s role in promoting Orthodox unity.
Yakunin added that the delegation is eagerly awaiting the moment of the Holy Fire’s appearance, expected within the coming hours, in line with religious traditions the foundation has observed for 22 years.
According to tradition, the Holy Fire is transported to various countries as a sacred relic. Since 2003, the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation has annually delivered the Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to Moscow in celebration of Easter.
