In response to a worldwide plea issued by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Oshagan issued an appeal in yesterday’s Crossroads E-Newsletter, encouraging everyone to immediately register their support of the Patriarchate on the ongoing dispute surrounding the Holy Fire Ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The Holy Fire Ceremony is a religious ceremony that takes place on the Saturday of Holy Week, within the Tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Jacobite-Syrians, all participate in this miraculous Holy Saturday ceremony where the Holy Fire descends from Heaven and lights up the lamp within the Tomb of Christ. The ceremony is conducted according to precise and clear rules and arrangements, which have been in existence for hundreds of years. According to the centuries-old practice, the Greek Patriarch and Armenian Patriarch (or representative) enter the Holy Tomb together, kneel down in front of the Tomb together, and witness the miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire together. They then transfer the Holy Fire to members of the Eastern Churches through two windows located in the wall of the Angel’s Chapel.
During Easter of 2002, the newly elected Greek Patriarch, Irineos I (now deposed), incited a conflict inside the Holy Tomb with the Armenian Patriarch’s representative, by demanding a deviation for the status quo arrangements. Since that time the conflict has continued.
The Armenian Patriarchate has made petitions and requests to the Israeli government for a decision on the matter. After five years only promises have been given without any decisions. The Patriarchate is asking all Armenians to petition the Israeli government to act with a sense of duty and responsibility, and to uphold the centuries-old rights of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The Holy Fire Ceremony is a religious ceremony that takes place on the Saturday of Holy Week, within the Tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Jacobite-Syrians, all participate in this miraculous Holy Saturday ceremony where the Holy Fire descends from Heaven and lights up the lamp within the Tomb of Christ. The ceremony is conducted according to precise and clear rules and arrangements, which have been in existence for hundreds of years. According to the centuries-old practice, the Greek Patriarch and Armenian Patriarch (or representative) enter the Holy Tomb together, kneel down in front of the Tomb together, and witness the miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire together. They then transfer the Holy Fire to members of the Eastern Churches through two windows located in the wall of the Angel’s Chapel.
During Easter of 2002, the newly elected Greek Patriarch, Irineos I (now deposed), incited a conflict inside the Holy Tomb with the Armenian Patriarch’s representative, by demanding a deviation for the status quo arrangements. Since that time the conflict has continued.
The Armenian Patriarchate has made petitions and requests to the Israeli government for a decision on the matter. After five years only promises have been given without any decisions. The Patriarchate is asking all Armenians to petition the Israeli government to act with a sense of duty and responsibility, and to uphold the centuries-old rights of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Fax or Email your messages today.
To read the Patriarchate’s appeal, names and addresses of officials to contact, and a sample letter, visit
www.armenianchurch.net/news/photos/holyfire.pdf
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