The Miracle of the Holy Light from the Holy
Sepulechre Church In Jerusalem
Every Holy Saturday noon, in the Sacrosanct Temple of
Resurrection in Jerusalem, the GREAT WONDER OF THE HOLY
LIGHT is repeated, which shocks, touches, delights, gives joy
and faith to those honored and blessed to be present to the
ceremony of the Holy Light.
In the morning of the Holy Saturday, before the ceremony of
the Holy Light, a careful examination of the Holy Sepulchre
takes place, before it is sealed by the bee wax, prepared in
the morning. The examination takes place on order to verify
that there is nothing inside the Holy Sepulchre that could
cause fire. After sealing the Holy Sepulchre with the bee wax,
the Authorities place their seals over the wax.
Sepulechre Church In Jerusalem
Every Holy Saturday noon, in the Sacrosanct Temple of
Resurrection in Jerusalem, the GREAT WONDER OF THE HOLY
LIGHT is repeated, which shocks, touches, delights, gives joy
and faith to those honored and blessed to be present to the
ceremony of the Holy Light.
In the morning of the Holy Saturday, before the ceremony of
the Holy Light, a careful examination of the Holy Sepulchre
takes place, before it is sealed by the bee wax, prepared in
the morning. The examination takes place on order to verify
that there is nothing inside the Holy Sepulchre that could
cause fire. After sealing the Holy Sepulchre with the bee wax,
the Authorities place their seals over the wax.
In accordance to tradition, at midday of the Holy Saturday, the Orthodox Patriarch with his escort –
archpriests, priests and deans - and also with the Armenian Patriarch, enter the Sacrosanct Temple of
Resurrection, while the bells ring dolefully.
After that, the Holy Procession commences, which revolves three times around the Holy Sepulchre
and then the Patriarch stops in front of the Holy Sepulchre, where the officials are located as well.
After the Procession, the Holy Sepulchre is unsealed and the Patriarch removes the archpriest uniform
he is wearing and stays only in the white rochet. Following that, the commander of Jerusalem and the
chief of police examine carefully the Blessed Patriarch in front of everybody, in order to verify that he
is not carrying on him anything that could transmit light.
Inside the Holy Sepulchre, the Patriarch on his knees performs an archdiocesan’s pray by reading
special benedictions and by imploring our Lord Jesus Christ to send His Holy Light as a blessing gift to
the people. In the absolute quiet, during the Patriarch’s pray, a hiss is sounded and almost at the
same time, white-blue flashes of the Holy Light appear everywhere, like millions of photo flashes, and
the candles are lit on their own. Within the Holy Sepulchre, the torches held by the praying Patriarch
are also lit on their own by the Holy Light. Simultaneously the crowd starts cheering while tears of joy
and faith appear on its faces.
For a few moments, the Holy Light does not have the properties of fire. This occurs during the first
moments, when the Patriarch exits the Holy Sepulchre and gives the Holy Light to the believers.
Anyone may touch the flame of 33 candles and not get burnt! After the passing of almost 33 minutes,
the flame is normal.
Note: Only the Greek Orthodox Patriarch has the privilege and the power to come out with the Holy
Light. In the past attempts have been made by other doctrines to come out with the Holy Light but
they failed.
archpriests, priests and deans - and also with the Armenian Patriarch, enter the Sacrosanct Temple of
Resurrection, while the bells ring dolefully.
After that, the Holy Procession commences, which revolves three times around the Holy Sepulchre
and then the Patriarch stops in front of the Holy Sepulchre, where the officials are located as well.
After the Procession, the Holy Sepulchre is unsealed and the Patriarch removes the archpriest uniform
he is wearing and stays only in the white rochet. Following that, the commander of Jerusalem and the
chief of police examine carefully the Blessed Patriarch in front of everybody, in order to verify that he
is not carrying on him anything that could transmit light.
Inside the Holy Sepulchre, the Patriarch on his knees performs an archdiocesan’s pray by reading
special benedictions and by imploring our Lord Jesus Christ to send His Holy Light as a blessing gift to
the people. In the absolute quiet, during the Patriarch’s pray, a hiss is sounded and almost at the
same time, white-blue flashes of the Holy Light appear everywhere, like millions of photo flashes, and
the candles are lit on their own. Within the Holy Sepulchre, the torches held by the praying Patriarch
are also lit on their own by the Holy Light. Simultaneously the crowd starts cheering while tears of joy
and faith appear on its faces.
For a few moments, the Holy Light does not have the properties of fire. This occurs during the first
moments, when the Patriarch exits the Holy Sepulchre and gives the Holy Light to the believers.
Anyone may touch the flame of 33 candles and not get burnt! After the passing of almost 33 minutes,
the flame is normal.
Note: Only the Greek Orthodox Patriarch has the privilege and the power to come out with the Holy
Light. In the past attempts have been made by other doctrines to come out with the Holy Light but
they failed.
