Jerusalem—The Holy Fire has descended on the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It miraculously lit, as it does every Holy Saturday, in the tomb chamber, where the Body of the Savior was put after deposition from the Cross.

Irenaeus the Patriarch of Jerusalem was alone in the chamber at the instant of the miracle. Flashes of light occasionally glowed in the Holy Sepulcher during public prayer for the Blessed Fire.

Many candles in the congregation’s hands mysteriously lit of themselves the instant the Patriarch emerged from the chamber, carrying a lamp lit by the Fire.

Candles lit by the Holy Fire were passed from hand to hand all over the vast Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Russian worshippers were no exception. They will now deliver the Fire to Moscow by air for the Paschal liturgy the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will serve tonight at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow’s principal shrine.

Leading the Russian delegation sent for the Holy Fire are Sabbas the Bishop of Krasnogorsk, Moscow diocesan vicar, and Vladimir Yakunin, president of the Council of Trustees, Foundation of St. Andrew the First-Called, and first deputy president of Russian Railways.