Thousands gather in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre after restrictions lifted

11/04/2026

JERUSALEM (AP), Apr 11: Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday to take part in the annual “Holy Fire” ceremony, following the easing of security restrictions in Jerusalem.

The centuries-old ritual, held ahead of Orthodox Easter, symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the ceremony, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch emerges from the tomb inside the church with candles said to be lit by a miraculous flame, which is then shared among thousands of believers.

The gathering comes after holy sites across Jerusalem’s Old City—including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall—reopened following a 40-day closure imposed under Israeli security measures linked to the conflict involving Iran.

The reopening follows a fragile two-week ceasefire involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, allowing religious life to resume in the historic city.

“Just two days ago there was absolutely no one in the Old City—it felt like an orphaned town,” said Fr. Antonious Al-Orshalemy. “But now we see wedding-like celebrations on every level. Everyone is happy, and everyone is joyful.”