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JERUSALEM — The Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday accused Israeli police of infringing on the freedom of worshippers with “heavy-handed” restrictions on how many pilgrims can attend the “Holy Fire” ceremony amid soaring tensions. Israeli police said the limits are needed for safety during Saturday’s celebration at the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the 12th-century holy site where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried and resurrected. Saturday’s “Holy Fire” celebration comes during an unusual spate of violence in the Old City, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, the compound that’s...

Arson suspect in Holy Fire appears in court (CNN)The man accused of setting a Southern California fire that has burned more than 19,000 acres appeared in court Friday and said, "It's all a lie!" as a judge read the charges against him. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, did not enter a plea during the brief appearance in an Orange County courtroom. When the judge explained the process further to him, Clark said, "I comprehend. I do not understand though." He is due back in court August 17 for arraignment and bail review. Clark was charged Thursday with aggravated arson and criminal...

Forrest Clark's Facebook page is filled with posts about miracle cancer cures, Qanon, and supposed secret pedophile rings. … Some of the conspiracies Clark posted about were merely goofy, like the Illuminati, ancient aliens, and Flat Earthism. Most recently, he seemed to have bought into Qanon, which some suspect to be a troll on Boomer conservatives. Meanwhile, others were directly related to forest fires and some did veer into extremist territory. For instance, his Facebook activity suggests he was obsessed with the idea of secret pedophile rings—the same idea that led a man to bring an assault rifle to a...

On Tuesday night, a 51-year-old man who lives in a cabin in Holy Jim Canyon was arrested in connection with the fire. Forrest Gordon Clark was taken into custody of O.C. Sheriff’s deputies after he allegedly sent an email last week which read, “this place will burn,” according to the Orange County Register. Of the 14 cabins in Clark’s area, his is the only one that was not destroyed, the Register reports. He was arrested on two counts of felony arson, one count of felony threat to terrorize and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest. He was scheduled to appear...

...The Holy Fire, which had exploded from 75 to 700 acres within an hour Monday afternoon, was threatening recreation structures in the area of Trabuco Creek and Holy Jim Canyon roads, according to the United State Forest Service. It had consumed more than 1,200 acres by 5:40 p.m., with zero percent containment. At 8:19 p.m., the Cleveland National Forest's official Twitter account said the Holy Fire had grown to 4,000 acres with zero percent containment, meaning the blaze had more than tripled in size in fewer than three hours.

Easter in Israel is essentially centered on one specific tradition which is the hallmark of the season for local Christians. Easter in Israel is essentially centered on one specific tradition, the Holy Fire ceremony, which takes place on the Saturday before Easter, and is the hallmark of this holiday's season in Jerusalem for local Christians plus the thousands of faithful who make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land for this special occasion. All of Lenten and Easter events culminate in that moment, when the spirit of Jesus fills the tomb site in the Holy Sepulchre. According to their belief, a...

Listers, the following is a brief examination of the controversial “Miracle of the Holy Fire.” The Greek Orthodox Patriarch enters the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday - according to the Orthodox calendar. He proceeds into the Tomb of Christ and begins to pray. A fire is then miraculously enkindled by the Holy Spirit – supposedly the power of the resurrection – and is shared rapidly throughout the Church and all those who are waiting outside. To be clear, it is said that Pope Gregory the IX declared “Holy Fire” a fraud in AD 1238, but...

Thousands of Orthodox Christians converged on Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter. The Old City was jammed with pilgrims from the eastern Orthodox faiths including Greeks, Copts, Russians and Assyrians, seeking to reach the church, one of Christianity's holiest sites. For believers, the Greek Orthodox patriarch enters the Holy Sepulchre, recites special prayers and waits in the darkened church at Jesus' tomb for the Holy Fire to light an oil lamp. The light is then passed out to the waiting crowd by means of candles. Israeli police...

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....

30/04/2005 HOLY FIRE DESCENDS ON HOLY SEPULCHER JERUSALEM, April 30 (RIA Novosti, Olga Lipich) - The Holy Fire has descended on the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It miraculously lit, as it does every Holy Saturday, in the tomb chamber, where the Body of the Savior was put after deposition from the Cross. Irenaeus the Patriarch of Jerusalem was alone in the chamber at the instant of the miracle. Flashes of light occasionally glowed in the Holy Sepulcher during public prayer for the Blessed Fire. Many candles in the congregation's hands mysteriously lit of themselves the instant the Patriarch emerged from...

The Pascha miracle of Holy Fire appears at the tomb of Jesus Christ (pictures)Christian worshipers surround what is traditionally believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ, during the Holy Fire ceremony during Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, Saturday, April 10, 2004. The ceremony is meant to assure the worshippers that Jesus has not forgotten them and is sending a message of hope through the fire. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Israeli police in blue uniforms push back pilgrims and Evzones, right, members of the Greek Presidential guard, who escorted Greek Orthodox Patriarch of...

ZABABDEH, OCCUPIED WEST BANK — The Easter tradition among the churches of Palestine and Israel is unique. On Holy Saturday, the day before Orthodox Easter (April 27 this year), the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem enters the tomb of the Holy Sepulchre. After a moment of prayer, he emerges with the Holy Fire, passing it on by candle to the gathered faithful. From there, with shouts of “Christ is risen!” it is spread to the churches of this land, a symbol of the miracle of resurrection spread throughout the world. In past years, someone would go down from Zababdeh to...