Thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem waiting for a miracle of the Holy Fire and to celebrate the annual ritual symbolizing Jesus' resurrection.
The Holy Fire that is lit every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on the day preceding Orthodox Easter is believed by Orthodox Christians to be a miracle.
This year Easter is celebrated the same day for all Christians so the number of devoted is especially big.
A delegation of Russian religious, government and public figures will attend the "coming down" of Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem on Saturday and bring the flame to Moscow on Easter's Eve.
The Holy Fire is brought to Russia from Israel every year since 2003.
Every Orthodox church in Russia holds Paschal liturgies on the night of Holy Saturday that last well into Easter morning.
JERUSALEM, April 23 (RIA Novosti)
