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Miracle in the Orthodox Church: The Ceremony of the Holy Light in Jerusalem
This ceremony takes place in the Orthodox Church of the Resurrection
in the Holy city of Jerusalem in such a way
that bewilders the soul of the Christians. It takes place every single year, at the same time, in the
same manner, and on the same spot.
On Pascha Saturday, at noon, the Orthodox Patriarch, or any other Orthodox Archbishop, enters the
Holy Sepulchre, recites special prayers and
remains waiting. Sometimes the waiting is long, sometimes short. The crowd, in the darkened church,
repeats continually with a loud voice: "Lord, have mercy." (Kyrie eleison). At a certain moment the
Holy Light flashes from the depth of the Holy Sepulchre in a supernatural way, miraculously, and
lights up the little lamp of olive oil put on the edge of it. The Patriarch (or the Archbishop),
after having read some prayers, lights up the two clusters of 33 candles he is holding, and
begins to distribute the Holy Light to the multitude of pilgrims, who receive it with great emotion,
accompanied with the pealing of bells, acclamations, and an unbridled enthusiasm.
The Holy Light is not only distributed by the Archbishop, but operates also by itself. It emits
from the Holy Sepulchre having a gleam of a hue completely different from that of natural light.
It sparkles, it flashes like lightning, it flies like a dove around the tabernacle
of the the Holy Sepulchre, and
lights up the unlit lamps of olive oil hanging in front of it. It whirls from one side of the church
to the other. It enters to some of the chapels inside the church, as for instance the chapel of the
Calvery (at a higher level than the Holy Sepulchre) and lights up the little lamps. It lights up
also the candles of certain pilgrims. In fact there are some very pious pilgrims who, every time
they attended this ceremony, noticed that their candles lit up on the own accord!
This divine light also presents some special peculiarities: As soon as it appears it has a bluish hue and
does not burn. At the first moments of its appearance, if it touches the face, or the
mouth, or the hands, it does not burn.
The appearance of the Holy Light is an event which occurs every year in front of thousands of visual
witnesses. Nobody can deny it. On the contrary, this miracle can reinforce those who have lack of
faith.
From "Differences between the Orthodox and Roman Catholicism", a book by Irene Econimides
More on the Holy Light miracle here:
Holy Fire. Holy Fire in Jerusalem is yearly miracle in Church of Holy Sepulchre
HOLYLIGHT the great miracle of Christ
Holy Light in Jerusalem
Holy Light seen at Jesus tomb in Jerusalem
Holy Light Miracle (greek language)
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