Orthodox worshippers greet ancient ceremony of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem

Christian Orthodox worshippers have thronged the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for one of the most chaotic gatherings in the Christian calendar – the ancient ceremony of the Holy Fire.

The event takes place in the location where Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead, and involves a flame being taken from Jesus’ tomb and used to light the candles of Christian Orthodox believers.

Soon, the dim chamber was lit by a constellation of handheld flames as part of the rite of Orthodox Easter week in Jerusalem. Worshippers believe the flame’s origin is a miracle.

Some young men holding crosses jumped up and down in the crowd and chanted.

“It is my first time that I have seen the holy light, and I am very blessed by God to have seen it.”

The ceremony for believers in Greek Orthodox communities has been held for more than a millennium. The church is built on the site where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

But Saturday’s event was joyous.

There was also some reflection on the Israel-Hamas war, taking place not far away.

Israel captured the Old City, along with the rest of the city’s eastern half, in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move not internationally recognised.

Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state.