The Holy Fire has descended Saturday, May 1, 2021, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem entered the church a little after 1:50 PM. The Holy Light descended at about 1:55 P.M.
After the Fire’s descent, the Patriarch passes the holy gift to the faithful.
The Holy Fire will arrive from Jerusalem on Saturday evening, May 1, 2021, brought by V. Rev. Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, Representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land. The delegates from the eparchies of the Romanian Patriarchate will receive it at the International Airport in Otopeni.
The eparchial centres will distribute the Holy Fire through deaneries to all the parishes.
The descent of the Fire
Was preceded by a complex ceremony: The doors of the Sepulchre were sealed by with a large wax seal as a sign that its inspection had finished, and in it was found nothing that would allow the Patriarch of Jerusalem to light the fire by any ordinary means.
Shortly before the arrival of Patriarch Theophilos, the seal was removed from the door of the edicule, and a large lampada and thirty-three candles were carried into the tomb. Then the Patriarch entered and began to wait. Those present continually prayed for the granting of the Fire until the time of its appearing.
This year, about 2,500 faithful were allowed into the church due to continuing COVID restrictions.
The Holy Fire will be delivered to around the world to various Local Orthodox Churches.
Photo courtesy: Trinitas TV
