Holy Fire

Leftist SYRIZA MP Makis Balaouras criticised the Greek state for continuing to adopt the tradition of receiving the Holy Fire from Jerusalem during Easter as a head of state. “An object, the fire, the Holy Fire arrives. It is something that does not happen in a civilised state”, he said in Greek parliament. The PM dubbed it a remnant of a pagan era during his speech.

The team at ‘Protothema’ english wishes everyone a Happy Easter! The message of the Lord’s resurrection went all over Greece, with faithful Christians flocking to Churches and receiving the Holy Light. May the light of Christ fill our hearts and bring us heath, prosperity and love, especially in the difficult times of hardship and uncertainty we are facing! Happy Easter!

The Holy Fire from Jerusalem arrived in Athens by airplane at 8 p.m. on Saturday, ahead of Easter celebrations in Greece.

The flame was received with the protocol reserved for heads of state after Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem had been handed it to a Greek delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis.

(UPD) The thousands of gathered pilgrims erupted into cheers of joy when Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theofillos III of Jerusalem exited the Holy Sepulchre at approximately 2.30 pm, Saturday. The Holy Light was swiftly shared among the elated faithful around an in the Church courtyard. The Holy Light is scheduled to arrive in Athens at 6 pm.

Every year a day before Orthodox Easter, Orthodox Christians around the world rejoice as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem emerges from the Holy Sepulchre, where the tomb of Christ is, with 33 candles mysteriously lit in the tomb, bringing the message of the resurrection of the Lord to the world.

Tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians packed Jerusalem's ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter. According to believers, the divine fire from heaven miraculously lights candles held by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch each year. The annual rite held there dates back to the 4th century.

Huge crowds gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to witness the miraculous descent of the Holy Fire, which occurs on the day before the Orthodox Easter.

The church is believed to be built on the the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

The Atheist Union of Greece have called for the abolition of the transport of the Holy Light from Jerusalem to Athens. The light flown to Greece comes from the Holy Fire that miraculously appears every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Great Sunday. The miracle of the light delights believers and non-believers alike.

Vespers Service

On Holy Wednesday, people head to church for the Service of the Holy Unction. The priest makes a sign of the Cross in oil on people's forehead for health and luck.

Red eggs

The Holy Fire, which is ignited every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, is to be brought to Bulgaria at 6.30 pm on Holy Saturday.

The official clergy delegation is headed by Plovdiv metropolitan bishop Nikolay, who was elected to deliver the Holy Fire by the Holy Synod again this year.