Holy Brand for Peace: Thousands Celebrate in Jerusalem

Holy Brand for Peace: Thousands Celebrate in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Israel - On April 20, 2025, thousands of Christians gathered in the Church of the Holy Grab in Jerusalem in order to take part in the centuries-old Holy Fire Ceremony. This ceremony, which takes place in the basilica built in the 12th century, is held in the traditional location of Jesus' crucifixion and funeral. In the almost complete dark, the Greek patriarch entered the Holy Edicule to get two inflamed candles before he stepped out with them and brought the light into the darkness of the rotunda area. The flame was passed on from candle to candle and symbolized the victory of the light over the darkness.

However, they were celebrated in the shadows of the current security concerns. After a devastating Stampede in 1834, in which around 400 pilgrims were killed, security at such meetings became the top priority. Instead, an increased military presence around the church became visible this year. In recent years, the Israeli authorities had tried to limit the number of participants for security reasons, which has led to protests by church leaders. This year the number of participants was apparently less, which attributed some believers to the 18-month war of Israel against Gaza. Adeeb Joude, the key holder of the Holy Grabes Church, noted: "The number of police officers is higher than that of the pilgrims."

religious and cultural context

Jerusalem, as a Holy City for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is a central pilgrimage destination that houses many significant sacred sites. This includes the wailing wall, the grave of Jesus in the Grabeskirche and the Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount. These sites are not only places of worship, but also locations of the interreligious dialogue and show the rich spiritual tradition of the city. Nevertheless, they are often the trigger for tensions between different religious groups, such as the use of the Grabeskirche through different Christian denominations that can occasionally lead to conflicts.

The story of Jerusalem is characterized by conflicts and the pursuit of control over this sacred place. The Palestinian population sees Eastern Jerusalem as the future capital of its state and at the same time experiences a dwindling presence, since the Christian community, mainly consisting of Palestinians, has shrunk through decades of conflicts. At the same time, Israel explains that it is committed to ensuring religious freedom for Jews, Christians and Muslims, which is repeatedly perceived as inadequate and leads to tensions among the communities.

meaning of the holy fire ceremony

The Holy Fire Ceremony has a story of at least 1,200 years and is one of the longest traditions that embodies the return to the essential of the faith and the community of believers. While skeptical voices dismiss the ceremony as a joke for the masses, it remains a sign of hope and an expression of deeply rooted faith for East Orthodox Christians. In recent years she has also served as a symbol of the challenges and tensions in the region that shape daily life in Jerusalem.

The garlands of history and the struggles for religious identity and rights are reflected in this holy city. Jerusalem remains a place of intensive spiritual importance as well as conflicts that influence relationships between different social and religious groups.