The Ceremony of the Holy Light at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

At noon on Holy Saturday, 6th/19th April 2025, the Ceremony of the Holy Light took place in accordance with the Typikon (liturgical order) and the Status Quo of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

According to this tradition, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, descended from the Patriarchate at 12:00/13:00 p.m. via the steps of the Cathedral of Saint James the Brother of the Lord and entered the Holy Sanctuary of the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was filled with pilgrims from many Orthodox countries and local faithful, crowded tightly together. Also present were members of other Christian denominations—Armenians, Copts, Ethiopians, and Syriacs—amid the strict security measures of the Israeli Police.

Upon His Beatitude’s entry into the Holy Sanctuary, the Armenian, Syriac, and Coptic representatives came forward and received a blessing in order to receive the Holy Light.

Once His Beatitude and the clergy had vested, the procession began from the Holy Sanctuary, circling the Holy Edicule three times with candles and the chanting of “O Gladsome Light…” and “Your Resurrection, O Christ Saviour…”

After the third procession around the Edicule, His Beatitude, wearing only the sticharion (a liturgical robe), entered the Holy Tomb. Having prayed there, he conveyed the Holy Light of Christ’s Resurrection to the thousands of faithful, who received it with great joy and exited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

After the ceremony, His Beatitude returned to the Patriarchate, preceded by Scout groups playing drums solely as a sign of participation, in honour of those still affected by the war. From His hands, the Holy Light was received by the delegations of the Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Metropolitan David of Grevena, and the Greek State, represented by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Giannis Loverdos, accompanied by the Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Greece, the Reverend Archimandrite Ieronymos.

From the General Secretariat

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem