Security increased for 'holy fire'

Thousands of police were deployed in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday as visitors from around the world came to mark the Orthodox Easter "holy fire" ritual at Christianity's holiest site.

Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said tens of thousands of worshippers were expected to descend upon the Old City for the ceremony, in which a flame believed to be miraculously ignited illuminates thousands of torches and candles.

Ahead of the ceremony, visitors jammed the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried. Thousands more walked around the neighboring alleyways of the Old City.

Ben-Ruby said everything was proceeding smoothly. But after unrest last year, security was tight. Several thousand police officers were deployed, alleys around the church were blocked off, and police also barred cars from entering the Old City.

During last year's holy fire ritual, tempers flared as thousands of people waited to pass through security barricades into the Old City. Some priests and pilgrims shoved and punched police, and there were scuffles inside the church.

During the ceremony, Orthodox religious leaders descend into the church's underground tomb to bring out the flame. When the men emerge, church bells peal and the flames are passed around to the thousands of faithful, filling the church with light and smoke within seconds.

The ritual dates back at least 1,200 years. The precise details of the flame's source are a closely guarded secret, but some believe it appears spontaneously from Christ's burial area as a message from Jesus on the eve of the Orthodox Easter that he has not forgotten his followers.

This year, the calendars of five major Christian faiths coincide with one another, meaning Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians are both celebrating Easter on Sunday. This happens only once every four years.

Holy Fire

HOLY FIRE - history and video of this event

To: Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

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2 posted on 04/07/2007 6:07:34 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)

Orthodox ‘Holy Fire’ ping!

3 posted on 04/07/2007 6:08:59 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)

To: NYer; crazykatz; JosephW; lambo; MoJoWork_n; newberger; The_Reader_David; jb6; ...

Orthodox Holy Fire ping.

4 posted on 04/07/2007 6:23:40 AM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)

Ika, a member of the security team.

5 posted on 04/07/2007 7:30:54 AM PDT by ASA Vet (The WOT should have been over on 11/5/1979.)

ON your page — the Kosovo video stinks big time. You do know we bombed the wrong people and during Easter as well...an insult to have that on your page at Easter.

6 posted on 04/07/2007 9:38:51 AM PDT by eleni121 ( + En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great))

Yes, I agree Clinton warred on the wrong side.
I didn't do the music video, just liked the music.

7 posted on 04/07/2007 9:43:57 AM PDT by ASA Vet (The WOT should have been over on 11/5/1979.)

I love the music too and our heroes. They are naturally talented.

I saw a video just like that with heroes in Iraq.

Did you watch the “Armadillo” music vid. That was done by the Brits. And the “Numa numa” music vid done by USS Enterprise crewmen?

9 posted on 04/07/2007 10:33:46 AM PDT by ASA Vet (The WOT should have been over on 11/5/1979.)

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