On April 15th, Holy Saturday, 2023 the yearly miracle of the Holy Fire occurred at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. For those who don’t know, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the Church built over the site of Christ’s tomb near calvary where he was crucified. Every year the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the head of the Jerusalem Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, is searched by secular authorities to ensure he has no lighting mechanisms, enters the tomb and is sealed in with beeswax. Eventually, ranging from 5 mins to even over an hour, he emerges from the tomb with both hands full of miraculously lit, flaming candles! The fire is distributed to throngs of cheering worshippers! This miracle has occurred every year since at least the 4th century AD! This year it only took five minutes for the fire to descend after the Patriarch entered the tomb.
Now many have tried to sow skepticism of this event but multiple scientific investigations have demonstrated that there are, in fact, unexplainable releases of light and energy that occur above the tomb and around the Church at the time the fire descends. There are many extensive defenses of the miracle and Dr. Steve has a classic old video in which he explores these scientific investigations himself!
There are many videos of the fire not burning people in the first minutes since it is spread throughout the Church. People hold paper, their beards, their hair, their sleeved arms, and other highly flammable items or body parts over large bundles of candles only for them to be unburnt! As the flame spreads to the outside of the Church it is put into lamps by representatives of the Orthodox and apostolic Churches that worship in the Holy Land and recognize the miracle. The Fire made it to Orthodox Christian communities in Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and even farther across the world within a matter of hours, lighting candles of the faithful across the globe!
The Holy Fire arrived in Ukriane via Romania.
"We met the Blessed Fire at the airport in Suceava, Romania, and we are in a hurry to Bucovina
With the blessing of Metropolitan Meletius, a delegation of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, consisting… pic.twitter.com/dBxAIPybdw
— Live Not by Lies (@Dana35300026) April 17, 2023
The Holy Fire from Jerusalem was delivered to Odessa. The city was blessed and the Holy Fire was shared with believers.
Christ is Risen! pic.twitter.com/Vm0mBfv3hn
— Live Not by Lies (@Dana35300026) April 16, 2023
Unfortunately, the secular/anti-Christian authorities in Jerusalem attempted to strongly limit the number of worshippers allowed to be present at the miracle. This comes amidst a recent spat of anti-Christian proposed laws and actions in The Holy Land, very much mirroring what is occurring in the United States and Ukraine!
Israeli security forces attacked Orthodox Christians who wanted to attend the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in occupied East Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/vfC2eHlK8R
— TRT World (@trtworld) April 15, 2023
Appalling! Israeli military forces brutally assault Palestinian and foreign Christians trying to celebrate Holy Fire prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City. pic.twitter.com/1ws1rrgwKG
— Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) April 15, 2023
Nevertheless, the miracle occurred and the attendance limit was defied! The miracle is growing in its recognition around the world and is surely a frustrating inconvenience for the forces of secular globalism seeking to stop Christian revival at all costs!
Just amazing ❤️! Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/QY1LebiJ7i
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) April 8, 2023
Conrad Franz is a Staff Writer at Turley Talks
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