News from the Orient – May 10, 2024

This week’s News from the Orient:

Sacred Fire Ceremony in Jerusalem

On Holy Saturday evening according to the Julian calendar, as every year, Orthodox Christians celebrated the Sacred Fire at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

No pilgrims were present at this year’s celebration, however, due to tensions in the region.

For two millennia, on the occasion of Orthodox Easter, a flame miraculously ignites on the tomb of Christ.

This fire is then spread among the faithful present and transmitted to various churches around the world, such as in Iraq where the flame arrived at the Monastery of Mar Mattai.

Eastern Christians' Day in Europe

Sunday, May 5, marked the Seventh Day of Eastern Christians.

Dozens of celebrations took place in Poland, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Monaco, and France.

At St. Sulpice Church in Paris, Mass was celebrated by Bishop Rafic Nahra, auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Each year since 2018, at the initiative of the Œuvre d'Orient, the 6th Sunday after Easter marks a day of prayer, encounter, and communion between Eastern Christians and Latin Christians.

Two villages attacked in Egypt

On April 23 and 26, hundreds of Islamic extremists attacked the villages of Al-Kouhm Al-Ahmar and Al Fawakher, in southern Egypt.

They sought to prevent the construction of evangelical Christian religious buildings.

Houses were looted and burned and several Christians were beaten.