Holy Saturday was celebrated this year under tight security due to the war between Israel and Hamas.
As every year on the eve of Orthodox Easter, the spectacular Sacred Fire ceremony was held at the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
A few minutes after 2 p.m. local time, church bells rang and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theofilos III emerged from the tomb of Jesus Christ, holding candles lit with the “Holy Fire.”
Holy Saturday was celebrated this year under tight security due to the war between Israel and Hamas. Only about 4,200 people were allowed in and around the Temple. Several checkpoints were set up by the Israeli police.
This did not prevent the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, as tradition dictates, from spreading the “Sacred Fire” to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.