Holy Fire to be brought to Chisinau on Easter Eve

The Holy Fire, believed by Orthodox Christians to be a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday will be brought to Chisinau on the evening of the Resurrection, by a delegation of priests, headed by His Grace Marchel, Bishop of Balti and Falesti. According to the Press Service of the Government, the Bishop will assist at the appearance of the Holy Fire in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. According to the same source, the Holy Fire will be brought at the Metropolitan Cathedral “Nasterea Domnului” on Saturday, April 7, at around 20.00. Here, it will be given to the priests and believers who will come to the Cathedral square. The Holy Fire is a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Easter. It is considered by many to be the longest attested annual miracle in the Christian world, though the event has only been documented consecutively since 1106. In many Orthodox countries around the world the event is televised live. The ceremony begins at noon when the Patriarch of Jerusalem or another Orthodox Archbishop recites a specific prayer. The faithful gathered will then chant "Lord, have mercy" (Kyrie eleison in Greek) until the Holy Fire descends on a lamp of olive oil held by the patriarch while he is alone in the tomb chamber of Jesus Christ. The patriarch will then come out from the tomb chamber, recites some prayers, and lights either 33 or 12 candles to distribute to the faithful.