Closure of Christianity’s holiest church won’t stop Holy Fire – Russian archpriest

The centuries-old Easter rite at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will go ahead, the Orthodox clergy say

The closure of Christianity’s holiest shrine in Jerusalem to pilgrims amid the escalating Middle East war is not expected to halt the traditional Holy Fire ceremony that marks the start of Orthodox Easter, a senior Russian cleric has said.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered by believers as the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection...