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March 21, 2026
Holy Fire Easter rite to continue at closed Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been closed to pilgrims amid the Israel-Iran war, but Orthodox clergy say the Holy Fire Easter rite will still be held
TL;DR
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is closed to pilgrims due to the Middle East war.
- Orthodox Easter falls on April 12 this year, with concerns about the potential cancellation of traditional ceremonies.
- Clergy are continuing liturgical services inside the church behind closed doors.
- The Holy Fire ceremony on Holy Saturday, where the Patriarch of Jerusalem emerges with candles lit by a flame considered miraculous, is still expected to happen.
- The Holy Fire is traditionally distributed to worshipers and flown to various countries for Easter services.
- The Russian Orthodox Church hopes the closure will not disrupt the transfer of the Holy Fire.
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