Thousands of Christians gathered in Jerusalem on Saturday (May 1) for the ancient fire ceremony that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.

Orthodox Christians flocked to Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher to celebrate the fire ceremony, gathering in far greater numbers than last year due to coronavirus restrictions easing.

The Holy Fire ceremony, symbolizing Jesus’s resurrection, is one of the most colorful spectacles of the Orthodox Easter season, usually attended by many pilgrims.

This season’s religious holidays in Jerusalem, home to several holy sites sacred to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, have been overshadowed by tragedy.

Notably, most of the Christians were stopped from entering the church by Israeli authorities.

Thousands of Christians gathered in Jerusalem Saturday for the ancient fire ceremony that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.
Orthodox Christians flocked to Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher to celebrate the fire ceremony, gathering in far greater numbers than last year due to coronavirus restrictions easing. The Holy Fire ceremony, symbolizing Jesus’s resurrection, is one of the most colorful spectacles of the Orthodox Easter season, usually attended by many pilgrims.
This season’s religious holidays in Jerusalem, home to several holy sites sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, have been overshadowed by tragedy.
Notably, most of the Christians were stopped from entering the church by Israeli Occupiers.