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Athens: Holy Fire lit in Jerusalem amid draconian security

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  • Athens: Holy Fire lit in Jerusalem amid draconian security

    Athens News Agency, Greece
    April 30 2005

    Holy Fire lit in Jerusalem amid draconian security

    JERUSALEM (ANA - P. Haritos) The ceremony for the lighting of the
    Holy Fire - a centuries-old phenomenon regarded as a miracle by the
    Orthodox faith - was carried out on Easter Saturday at the Church of
    the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem under draconian security, with one
    Israeli police officer for every two of the roughly 3,000 faithful
    that were allowed into the Church.

    As embattled Greek Patriarch Irineos I entered the 'Kouvouklion'
    - the chamber believed to be the tomb where Christ was buried - the
    police guard surrounding him came under attack from a group of
    Armenian pilgrims who were quickly quelled.

    Soon afterward, Irineos emerged carrying two lit torches and was
    lifted up by his police guard and carried around the Church to share
    out the Holy Fire. Orthodox Christians believe that the Holy Fire
    ignites spontaneously in the chamber from light coming down from
    heaven every year on Orthodox Easter Saturday, but only in the
    presence of a Greek Orthodox Patriarch.

    Earlier, the 1,500-strong force of Israeli police had sealed off
    all entrances and streets leading to the Church. Some 2,000-3,000
    pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Cyprus were denied access to the
    Church for security reasons.

    The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Transport Minister
    Anastasios Neratzis from the Greek government.

    Violent incidents between Arab Christians and Israeli police had
    also occurred during the Good Friday 'Epitaphion' procession, when
    the Israeli police attempted to arrest the leader of a group of
    protestors who were handing out leaflets against Irineos and chanting
    slogans demanding his resignation.

    Arabs have been angered by reports that the Greek Patriarch was
    responsible for the long-term lease of prime pieces of property owned
    by the Patriarchate in Arab East Jerusalem to foreign Jewish
    interests, including the landmark Imperial hotel near the entrance to
    Jerusalem's Old City run by a Palestinian family. They are clamouring
    for Irineos' removal and have called for the 'Arabization' of the
    Jerusalem Patriarchate.

    The Patriarch has denied the allegations, blaming the
    Patriarchate's former financial manager - now facing charges of
    embezzlement - for the controversial land deals, which he says are in
    any case invalid since they have not been approved the Patriarchate's
    Holy Synod.
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