Christians in Jerusalem and Egypt Mark Easter After Palm Sunday Terror

The Fellowship | April 17, 2017

ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-RELIGION-EASTER — Christian Orthodox worshippers hold candles during the ceremony of the "Holy Fire" as thousands gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, on April 15, 2017, during the Orthodox Easter holy week. The ceremony celebrated in the same way for eleven centuries, is marked by the appearance of "sacred fire" in the two cavities on either side of the Holy Sepulchre. / AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images)

After dozens of Christian worshipers were killed in multiple suicide bombings on Palm Sunday, Easter observances in the Middle East seemed to be under threat. But, our friends at JNS report, worshipers in Egypt – where the attacks took place – and in the Holy City solemnly observed the holy day this weekend at the Holy Fire ceremony:

Thousands of Christian pilgrims attended the annual Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Saturday as Egyptian churches marked a somber Easter Sunday. This year’s Easter rituals followed two Islamic State terror attacks at Egyptian Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday April 9, killing a combined 45 people.

The Israel Police bolstered security prior to the Holy Fire ceremony, deploying hundreds of units in Jerusalem’s Old City and at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre’s courtyard.

During the Jerusalem Holy Fire ceremony, which takes place annually prior to Easter Sunday, Christians light candles with “Holy Fire” from what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ. A sunbeam shines through one of the church’s ceiling windows and ignites a lamp positioned in the tomb, in what is deemed to be a miracle. Moments after the Orthodox patriarch reveals the “Holy Fire,” it spreads rapidly through the church as pilgrims light each other’s candles…