The Holy Sepulchre / 'Holy Fire' Fracas Of 2023 - Israel Vs. The Greek Orthodox Church
Channel: Daniel Rosehill
Date: 2023-04-16

The 'Holy Fire' ceremony has been a cherished rite among Orthodox Christians since the first century AD. 

However, this year's ceremony was preceded by a particularly acrimonious dispute between Israel and church leaders who claimed that crowd control restrictions Israel was imposing upon pilgrims attending the spectacle was tantamount to impeding upon their freedom of worship.

The story took an unusual twist, however, when it emerged that the entry restrictions had been requested by none other than a church official! The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem later attempted to distance itself from that leak.

== Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem statements ==

Response to leaked letter:

https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/blog/2023/04/14/holy-light-ceremony-response-to-the-statement-by-the-israeli-police/

Original statement decrying "unreasonable" restrictions:

https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/blog/2023/04/12/statement-by-the-status-quo-committee-of-the-churches-in-regards-to-unreasonable-restrictions-by-israeli-police-for-the-holy-light-ceremony/

== Timestamps ==

Intro - 00:00
The background - 00:12
Crowd safety limits - 00:29
Meron crowd crush - 00:33
Holy fire ceremony - 00:38
International headlines - 00:52
Joint churches statement - 00:57
Signatories - 01:23
Custody of the Holy Land - 01:28
Holy Fire 2023 - 02:20
Letter released - 02:28
Greek church's reaction to letter - 03:54
Patriarchate claim - 04:22
Israel's impossible options - 05:08
Ireland in Palestine tweet - 05:53

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By: Daniel Rosehill 

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