Israel imposed heavy limits on Greek Orthodox Easter ceremony in Jerusalem

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Israeli police have imposed limits on the number of Greek Orthodox who can assemble at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem this weekend for the Holy Fire ceremony.

This precedes the Orthodox Easter, on Sunday 16 April, and marks the ancient story of a light emitting from Jesus’ tomb, which is shared to light candles and lamps.

The Associated Press reports that Israel, which imposed similar restrictions on the Holy Fire event last year, says it wants to prevent another disaster after a crowd stampede in 2021 at a packed Jewish holy site left 45 people dead.

Christian leaders say there’s no need to alter a ceremony that has been held for centuries.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem called the limitations “heavy-handed.”