Russian archpriest: Closure of Christianity’s holiest church won’t halt Holy Fire

(SeaPRwire) –   Orthodox clergy confirm that the ancient Easter ritual at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will proceed as planned.

According to a high-ranking Russian church official, the traditional Holy Fire ceremony, which signifies the beginning of Orthodox Easter, is anticipated to proceed despite the shutdown of Christianity’s most sacred site in Jerusalem to visitors due to the intensifying conflict in the Middle East.

Because of the ongoing airstrikes between Israel and Iran, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—regarded by the faithful as the location of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection—has been closed to the general public and public worship. As Orthodox Easter is set for April 12, these limitations have sparked fears that rituals dating back could be called off for the first time in contemporary history.

On Friday, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov told RT that, according to reports from the Moscow Patriarchate’s representation in the Holy Land, religious services within the church are ongoing despite the lockdown.

”The crucial point … is that worship services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are ongoing,” he stated. “The clergy belonging to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem are performing services inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with doors closed, which indicates that prayers are being offered.”

Vyzhanov noted that the restrictions seem to impact only tourists and pilgrims, leaving the actual ceremony untouched. “It is possible that the patriarch of Jerusalem will, just as he does annually, go into the church, and this miracle will take place.”

During the Holy Fire ceremony, typically observed on Holy Saturday prior to Orthodox Easter, the Patriarch of Jerusalem enters the small chapel situated above Christ’s traditional tomb and exits with candles ignited by a flame considered miraculous by believers. Subsequently, this holy fire is shared among the faithful and is customarily transported via special flights to Greece, Russia, and other nations with Orthodox majorities to commence their Easter celebrations.

The Russian Orthodox Church has voiced optimism that the transport of the Holy Fire will remain unaffected by the closure, describing the persistence of prayer within the Sepulchre as “the key thing” amidst the circumstances of war.