Thousands gather in Jerusalem for the annual Holy Fire ceremony, but crowd limits force some to miss out.
abc.net.au/news/christian-faithful-celebrate-holy-fire-jerusalem/102228724Christian worshippers thronged the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on Saturday to celebrate the ceremony of the Holy Fire, an ancient ritual that sparked tensions this year with the Israeli police.
The Holy Fire ceremony was held a day before Easter at the church where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.Many trying to get to the church — built on the site where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected — were thrilled to mark the rite of the Orthodox Easter week in Jerusalem.
Footage showed Israeli police dragging and beating several worshippers, thrusting a Coptic Priest against the stone wall and tackling one woman to the ground.Israel has capped the ritual to just 1,800 people. As early as 8am, Israeli police were turning back most worshippers from the gates of the Old City — including tourists who flew from Europe and Palestinian Christians who travelled from across the occupied West Bank — directing them to an overflow area with a live stream.
Ana Dumitrel, a Romanian pilgrim surrounded by police outside the Old City, said she came to pay tribute to her late mother, whose experience witnessing the holy fire in 1987 long inspired her.
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