The Holy Fire (Greek Ἄγιον Φῶς, "Holy Light") is believed by Orthodox Christians to be a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter. It is considered by many to be the longest-attested annual miracle in the Christian world. It has only been consecutively documented, however, since 1106, previous mentions being sporadic. The ceremony is broadcast live in Greece, Russia and other Orthodox countries.On the appointed day at noon "the Greek patriarch, with his clergy arrayed in their sacerdotal robes, and followed by the Armenian patriarch, with his clergy, and the bishop of the Copts, march in grand and solemn procession, and singing hymns, three times round the Holy Sepulchre."[1] The procession ended, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem or another Orthodox Archbishop recites a specific prayer, puts off his robes and enters alone into the sepulchre. The "Armenian and Coptic prelates remain in the antichamber, where they state that the angel was sitting when he appeared to the pious woman {Mary Magdalene} after the resurrection" of Jesus.[1] The congregants will then chant "Lord, have mercy" (Kyrie eleison in Greek) until (as it is believed) the Holy Fire spontaneously descends on 33 white candles tied together by the Patriarch while he is alone in the tomb chamber of Jesus. The patriarch will then reveal himself from the tomb chamber and recite some prayers and light either 33 or 12 candles and distribute them to the congregants.Pilgrims claim the Holy Fire will not burn their hair, faces, etc. in the first 33 minutes after it is ignited. One web site offers videos claiming to show worshippers having prolonged contact with the flames without discomfort or damage to skin or hair. Interpretation of alleged video documentation of the Holy Fire continues to be a matter of dispute (see below). Before entering the Lord's Tomb, the patriarch is examined by Israeli authorities to prove that he does not carry technical means to light the fire. This investigation used to be carried out by Turkish soldiers.The Holy Fire is first mentioned in the documents dating from the 4th century.[citations needed] A detailed description of this phenomenon is contained in the travelogue of the Russian hegumen Daniil (Daniel) who was present at the ceremony in 1106. Daniel mentions a blue incandescence descending from the dome to the edicula where the patriarch awaits the holy fire. Some claim to have witnessed this incandescence in modern times.
During the many centuries of this phenomenon's history, the holy fire is said not to have descended only on certain occasions, usually when heterodox priests attempted to obtain it[citations needed]. According to the tradition, in 1099, for example, the failure of Crusaders to obtain the fire led to street riots in Jerusalem[citations needed]. It is also claimed that in 1579, the Armenian patriarch prayed day and night in order to obtain the holy fire, but the lightning miraculously struck a column near the entrance and lit a candle held by the Orthodox patriarch standing nearby[citation needed]. Upon entering the temple, the Orthodox Christians would embrace this column, which bears marks and a large crack that they attribute to the lightning-bolt.People in Jerusalem trying to get the fire when it comes out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=j5KUCaWrg70http://youtube.com/watch?v=3jlroysTPuY
The fire doesn't burn you:http://youtube.com/watch?v=h7rR2N0Janohttp://youtube.com/watch?v=XlMo41vW14AI don't know if it really is a miracle. But it looks strange.
