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Baz Ratner / Reuters
Worshippers hold candles at the Church of Holy Sepulchre during the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem's Old City on April 23.
Abir Sultan / EPA
View looking down from the rotunda inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that shows the Tomb of Christ as the miracle of the Holy Fire occurs on April 23, the day before Easter. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the Holy Fire, which emenates from within the Tomb of Christ and quickly spreads around the church and outside to Jerusalem and even to foreign countries, represents the flame of the Resurrection power, as well as the fire of the Burning Bush of Mount Sinai.
Nir Elias / Reuters
A general view of the Church of Holy Sepulchre during the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem's Old City on April 23. Christians around the world celebrate Easter on Sunday.
Oliver Weiken / EPA
The Holy Fire is spread from the rotunda in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many believe Jesus was buried, during the ceremony of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem, Israel, on April 23.
For more on the ceremony click here.
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Good God, don't these people have a life? A "Holy Fire"? Show me where in the bible that mentions a "Holy Fire".
What about the Holy Zippo that starts the Holy Fire, is it blessed also?
Hey Dave, don't worry about what it doesn't say, worry about what it does or more specifically, the people who pay attention to that.
Porktaco, the thing that burns my butt more than anything is all the so called sacred sites and sacred ceremonies and all that crap the Roman Catholic Church has invented just to bring more and more money into their pockets by way of "offerings".
The Fire is not Holy, the cross is not Holy and neither is 99% of the Holy bull crap they put out. There was NO fire when they found the open grave. So they built a fire and said worship this and leave your money in the plate. The Pope needs a new Popemobile, plus he needs a new set of robes, so leave your money.
Show me another religion that says an imagenery fire is HOLY. Come on.
Why not let it be when anyone from any religion gets together and does something peaceful for a change? Put a platypus in tweed and have everyone grab their ankles while making mooing sounds ..... who cares as long as they're not using it to kill people? It's refreshing to see that many people get together with candles in their hands and not try to light each other on fire!
Dave you are an idiot and obviously uneducated as to what this event is or when it started. First it isn't Roman catholic, they aren't even allowed there. It is Orthodox Christian. Second it started over 1200 years ago before lighters or matches even existed so it couldnt have been faked. Google is your friend. Do some research and learn about the history. It also doesn't burn people, not their hair or their clothes. They don't worship it nor does anyone make money off this. People have tried to debunk it and all failed. You also need to learn what "holy" means and what makes something holy or not. Typical uneducated repetition of atheist propaganda ignoring facts or spreading lies. Holy fire is in the bible by the way, but not in this form. The burning bush that was not consumed is one example.
(quite a few of these videos are very interesting)
It deleted my links. I'll try to re-enter them here.
holyfire.org/eng/
holyfire.org/eng/video.htm
Trying to repost without the http portion. Not sure why this thing wouldn't let the links post properly.
Wow, it seem how so many people can be mislead today. The only quote "holy fire" you can find written in the Word. It is spoken of in Revelation chapter 13 vs 13.
Still wanna call this Holy Fire? Wonder what people will call this when it happens....?
Dave its people like you that end up beheaded by crazies..... just saying
Hey guys, believe what you want to believe, but a picture is worth a thousand words, check out this link and look the videos and pics, hair burns immediately, but not from this Hold fire.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster (Praise be His Noodly Appendages) doesn't make his followers do such things. Nobody have ever been tortured or persecutred under the FSM, and all religious rituals are totally optional.
RAmen!
you troll you XD
Yeah Randy, He is called The Holy Spaghetti Monster. Its the tomatoes that make him fly. Don't be sacrilegious.
All Hail the Spaghetti Sauce!
Ramen, brother!
Hehehehe - http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/~matmcinn/picture/Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage.jpg
herd instinct
you have not yet seen or felt the holy fire that is going to burn.
I have seen camp fires does that count? Also I use a Zippo to light my cigarettes. So I must be holey huh?
Notice I did not say Holy, I said holey.
I personally love the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" meme. It perfectly encapsulates the mindset of so many of our liberal atheist bretheren: ripe with condescension, proudly ignorant, and full of the smug self-satisfaction of a 9-month old baby that just messed its diapers.
Please do keep using it, it's quite amusing.
You must think that there is something wrong with God? That God has some sort of material defect in His character? For if you believe in God, then you must believe that God created the liberal atheist for good purpose, or the conditions that led to the liberal atheist's existence. When we start believing that God has no purpose or wisdom in doing something, then it leads to judgments like yours for which we have no right to make against each other. You depart from the essentials of your own religion, for which I am not a part.
@TooMuch,Too Far,
No there is nothing wrong with God, I believe in him. But when an organized religion feels like they have to make up an imaginary event to collect more and more money in offerings there is something wrong.
There was no fire in the empty grave of The Christ, OK that is what the hell I am pizzed at. Just another excuse to take more money from idiots.
God did not create liberal atheists, to say so is to wipe out the concept of free will and the human mind. God creates human beings, what human beings do with their free will and their capacity for rational thought is totally up to us.
Your comment is nonsensical.
Dave your attitude makes no sense and it definitely shows me you are not very familiar with the NT at all. Read Acts again bud it very clearly lays out organized religion right there including their support to do their work.
So if God did not create the conditions for liberal atheists to exist, I guess your God isn't so powerful after all. If He creates something so intolerable to Himself, maybe He should choose a different hobby? Or, perhaps, just perhaps, he has just as much need for liberal atheists as dedicated Christians. But I forgot, you've already judged what's right and wrong in this world. Silly God, He probably thought such judgment was up to Him?
I'm a big fan of Ayn Rand, an atheist. I also enjoy Christopher Hitchens' writings, and the other writings of scholarly atheists. Whose words are needed. So, bug off on your "you are just SO judgmental, OMG!" argument.
I'm speaking of your run-of-the-mill liberal atheist, the kind that frequents the comments on news sites with their "Flying Spaghetti Monster" meme. Or have you forgotten the subject of the discussion, in favor of your "message"?
Dave, if there is some God, for sure it's not "him", or "her".
Squatch, free will ? If there is such a thing, it's very limited. We are conditioned (indoctrinated ?) by the world in which we grow up, and we act and think in accordance with our conditioning.
Yes, that would explain all those rags-to-riches stories we hear, about kids growing up in gang-infested neighborhoods that make a good life for themselves. Not to mention all the historical rags-to-riches stories we've all heard. The Irish? Pfft, ignorant potato-eaters, the whole lot of them!
They had no real free will.
In the context of BS political labeling, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and its deity, was created by a conservative, a physicist in fact. Most scientists are conservative in their views, but Bobby Henderson created the CFSM as an argument against the Kansas State Board of Education and their hearings over teaching evolution in public schools. The whole premise arguing against teaching evolution rests on the First Amendment and freedom of religion, so does Henderson's counter-argument of rests on the freedom of speech.
Essentially, it was matching one BS argument with another (and in the case of arguing for intelligent design, a complete waste of public taxes). However, the point of having the inalienable right to freedom of speech, a Constitutional Amendment, is being truly "conservative" as it conserves the Constitution.
It's one reason why BS political labels are so profoundly made of..well, BS.
Squatch, I think that we are not really in control of our lives. Of course most of the time we think we are, and we just hate the idea of not being in control, but we are not. Sometimes something happens that shatters this illusion. Just my thoughts, though. And sure, a kid growing up with poverty and violence can make it, there are more than 6 billion people, and every single person is different.
No offense intended to several of the people who have commented, but if you're not a Christian, then your disagreement with this ceremony doesn't really apply to you. It's funny that people who spend so much time complaining that we are trying to force our beliefs on them don't shirk when trying to force their beliefs on us. I don't, nor does anyone in my church, disrespect Ramadan or Yom Kippur, or any other religion's high holy days, so it would be nice if other people could lay off for just one day. Spout your rhetoric on Christmas or Palm Sunday or even Ash Wednesday if you want; but, all that true Christians, being those who believe the truth of Christ commanding us to live a life of love and peace, really ask for is this one day per year to celebrate their faith in joy. Why is it such a problem? Many of us do not actually begrudge you your lack of belief (despite what the publicity of the most reactionary "Christians" would lead you to believe), so I would ask that you do not begrudge us our faith. The United States is still a free country, and there is room for all beliefs. Hatred of someone because of their religion is no different than hatred of someone because of the color of their skin.
The Holy Fire is within each person that asks for it and uses it in the right way it is called the "Holy Spirit" No burning candles, jumping around in a building, just a communication between the creator of all things and man. Yahshua knew what it was all about and he didn't say carry a candle, hold onto the cross which couldn't hold him or put money in the kitty for anybody especially him.....
Amen to that, Brother.
Holy Smokes!!
The Holy Fire is symbolic (the Light of Christ in the World). You are correct there was no literal fire regarding the death and Resurrection of Christ. By the way, you can find in the Bible where Christ says "I am the light of the world". So this ritual is symbolic .. and is peaceful also. Kali Anastasi and Christos Anesti.
hey if you want to celebrate I guess with fire is the best way especially in an enclosed ancient building that probably isn't what people think it actually is.
To all the nay sayers,
Are you aware that Jesus was against organized religion in heirarchaical terms? He despised the Pharisees who collected money and sacrifices so they could live well while the poor and needy suffered. The high priest (comparable to the Pope) and his underlings (comparable to the cardinals, bishops, etc) who looked down on those who were not among them as being apart from God. (comparable to Islam)
Look, until you desire to seek the truth you will not find it. It is not some wierd sphagetti monster. It is reality beyond your understanding right now. One day you may suffer beyond grief where the only relief is to reach out to Jesus and God. Then you will see everything begins to fall in place and make sense. Then you will see how real it is.
Right now you are invulnerable, nothing can touch you. Just as I was, all 6' 210 pounds of a man... until life showed me how small and powerless I really am. I pray you find the truth before you have to go through that experience. That, by the way, is another thing Jesus tried to tell us.
Just a casual read does not reveal the truth. You have to sincerely seek and it opens up like nothing you have ever read or heard before. It is not brain washing, etc. Why do you think millions of people love him and his words? These are not blind sheep looking for magical miracles. It is the truth beyond my feeble attempt to explain. He is your defender in truth. That's the best I can do.
Jesus was(is) the revolutionary who came to let you know that God understands and he is on your side. He didn't come to play hocus pocus or banter about wistfully. He came to try to tell us if we would listen we could live in heaven on earth. But of course, we still don't and it appears never will listen. That is what is truly sad.
Try seeking the truth, even if you do not believe in God. Give it a shot and don't approach from the standpoint of trying to disprove. Look at it as adding depth to your life.
If you have to, just pretend while you read it that you believe that God and Jesus are as real as you.
PS: You don't turn into some wierd person like you imagine religious people. Most of the intelligent and strongest in the world believe. You don't have to go to church, you don't have to believe in hell and you don't have to do anything you don't want to do.
Jesus said to pray privately, not for show because it is a relationship between you and him.
Signed,
A liberal believer.
Oh, Jesus as a historical figure is extremely fascinating. However, what he intended and what ended up becoming of Christianity in the end are two completely different things. You see this all the time throughout history.
The right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech go hand in hand - We both have the right to preach, but we also have the right not to have to listen to it, either.
The FSM followers are out in full force as usual, ridiculing anything else, and following oblunders and soros mission statements. LEMMINGS.
The blasphemy on these pages would get you burned at the stake a few hundred years ago. Pity, sometimes progress is anything but.
I hear you, brother. I sure miss the good old days... when nice & regular folk got together and burned heathens for their thought crimes.
My grandfather was ordained as an orthodox priest in that church. He and my grandmother were present for several holy fire services. My aunts, uncles, and cousins, have also been present for this miracle. All of them say they were able to spread the fire on them without being burned. Has any scientific researcher been able to come up with something that would mimic fire and not burn you? Oh, and they would have to come up with it in a pitch dark tomb after being patted down and searched for anything to "create" the fire.
I think the most insulting thing I have read from all of these comments is that it's for the monetary benefit of the church. In my entire time as being an Orthodox Christian, this actual miracle has been brought up in church 1-2 times. In fact, I have been the one to tell many people in our church for the first time about this miracle.
My goal is to one day be present for this service and experience it firsthand for myself. To those of you who are too close-minded to realize how special this is, it's your loss.
Uh, hate to quench all this Catholic bashing here, but there a holy fire mentioned in the bible. Check out the Pentecost story in the book of Acts.
Dave (the doubter), Here are are just a few references to wet your appetite...Genesis 15:17-21, Leviticus 1:3-9, Leviticus 3:6-17, Leviticus 9:23-24, Leviticus 10:1-2, Numbers 4:1-20, 1 Samuel 6:19-21, 1 Kings 18:21-40, 2 Chronicles 7:1-11, 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, Nehemiah 13:23-31, Psalm 20:1-5, Song of Solomon 7:10-13, Isaiah 31:6-9, Luke 12:41-53, Romans 12:1-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22.
As all of Christianity recognizes and celebrates the risen Savior, I pray the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart. Your faith in the resurrection of Jesus can bring you salvation also! I pray during this time of celebration you will seek Him.
I want God's PR team. If a kitten is born anywhere in the world God did it. If a hurricane, earthquake or tsunami hits somewhere it's the evil of man that's being punished. The old con game, Heads I win Tails you lose!
This is just another fairy tale made up, like all the rest, to keep a primitive superstitious people under control. If you look at it carefully God is very much like Santa Claus. Both are watching all the time, both know who is naughty and nice (though Santa has yet to destroy a couple of cities out of pique or flood the world), both might bring presents if you ask nicely and you're just as likely to get what you ask for from either one, though my results with Santa have been on the more positive side.
If you read the book of fairy tales called the bible you will see mention of talking animals, sorcerers, witches and unicorns. It's like a poor man's Harry Potter story. The same book has been used to defend slavery, the prohibition of interracial marriage, and currently gay marriage. Pick something, almost anything and you can find justification in this book of fairy tales. Rape a woman against her will? Yep, it's in there! Cast her out when you're done with her? Yep, that's in there too!
This is just another example of an activity of a religion that is to stir up the passions of followers while the same religion condones and covers up pedophilistic activity of its members.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchure has got to be the world's ugliest building, hands down. I've been there and seen it. It's a wonder they don't burn it down every year with this pagan stunt.
religion is only great for all the great architecture IT iNsPIRES, tHE REST IS PURE BULL@!$%#
Right on, JD4U. That's exactly what I keep trying to tell people. Unfortunately, people seem to think that liberal believers are also some type of flying spaghetti monster.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is not in ISRAEL, it is in PALESTINE.
Umm. . . wouldn't it have to be made of something that was flamable to burn it down. Looks like stone to me, but hey . . . I'm a Christian what do I know?
I sure do wish that people would quit judging me and condemning me for being a Christian.
I sure do wish that mean people would be converted to the, dare I say Christian, idea of treating others as they would like to be treated. I bet that would stop a lot of the violence we see going on in the world.
I sure do wish that people would begin to appreciate the fact that God, the great Organizer and founder of Order Himself, created a Church that was a beacon of Order and Organization.
I sure do wish that people who claim to follow Jesus Christ would instead of demanding that they be subject to no human being would understand that their model in Life was Obedient unto death to unbelievers and that is the way in which He converted them.
I bet that if we all converted ourselves to love Order instead of chaos we would have order instead of chaos.
But hey, I'm a Christian . . . what do I know?
@Dave the doubter...
incidentally, FYI - this is a Christian Orthodox church where this is happening... Not a Roman Catholic..
In short people, why don't you just live your life the way you want to. Not by some moldy book that is full of drug induced hysteria. No bible, koran (however you spell it), or torah. That would make this world a better, safer place to live.
Holy fire started with Zoroastrianism centuries before Christianity--they also had the first angels and first demon as well. Interesting...
Too bad some people cannot believe what " they see" if they do not "want" to do it. The truth is before you and you can make fun of it just as so many have before, but most of them are not now remembered, nor are they alive. Nothing they did or did not do ,remembered either.
People sit and watch paranormal shows and would admit something is going on and maybe there is life ( good or bad) going on "beyond here" but to realize that our Lord is Lord of all and died for our sins and certainly can cause miraculous signs even today to show He is with us as Holy Spirit, they cannot dare believe as this would make them to need to "change their ways, as they have been wrong' all along.
Wish just "once" they could make this trip, and see this annual event at this very time of year, for themselves before judging.But if not, guess they will know more about it all, after this life. Personally ,I would not want to take chances with my own life in that way.
The bible does make it clear.... blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is ''not ever forgiven!''
May God be with you