This year the ceremony is small due to the coronavirus pandemic and only includes few representatives of the Church of the Sepulchre, Orthodox churches, the Armenian Church, the Copts, and the Syrian Orthodox Church.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been quarantined together with other churches in the Holy Land. After the ceremony, the Holy Fire will be delivered by representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church to the Jaffa Gate of the old city of Jerusalem, where it will be handed over to diplomatic delegations, including one from Russia.
According to the Orthodox tradition, the Holy Fire is a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter, in which a blue light emanates within Jesus Christ's tomb.
Later in the day, the Holy Fire arrived in Moscow from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem to mark Orthodox Easter in the country, a source from Christian Foundation of Andrew the First-Called said.
It will be delivered to Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral where a subdued service will be held, the source said.