Thousands of Orthodox Christian pilgrims from throughout the world will once again converge upon the ancient city of Jerusalem this Saturday for a ritual that’s been happening for over a thousand years.
Known as the Miracle of the Holy Fire, believers contend that a fire is mysteriously lit in the exact spot where Jesus was entombed over two thousand years ago. Over the centuries the ritual has drawn criticism from various people who have called it a hoax and a way to attract pilgrims and their money.
In 2008 rival Christian monks and priests fought inside the church over positioning and placement to receive the light from the emerging Greek Orthodox Patriarch.
Photos from the Holy Fire ritual at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem:
