The small doorway to the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb cracked open to reveal a bright flame and tens of thousands of worshipers cheered ecstatically, marking the pinnacle of Easter Week’s holy fire ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The annual ritual has been practiced for at least the last 1,200 years on the day before Easter, which celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.

Worshipers of various Orthodox Christian sects packed into the  — Christianity’s most sacred shrine and revered as the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. In the ceremony, a flame believed to be miraculously lit emanates from the tomb. ?Read more