The Orthodox Christians celebration of Easter in Jerusalem was long awaited. According to the Julian Calendar, kept by most Eastern Churches, the Resurrection of Christ was celebraated this year on April 8th. In days leading up to the feast, the faithful of various origins, keeping varous rites, commemorated the Passion of Jesus, culmiating on Holy Saturday inside the Basiloca of the Holy Sepulcher with the ceremony of the Holy Fire. In a centuries-old tradition, it is believed that an angel;visits the Aedicule, housing the tomb of Jesus, and ignites a lamp alternately flaming for minutes before the ceremony. Each year, differing rites are celebrated in turn by Coptic, Syrian and Armenian clerics in the presence of thosands. There are processions of local Christians accompanied by choirs, drumming and the sounds of other instruments. Then the Greek Orthodow Patrirach, Theophilus III makes his solmen entrty, and having processed around the aedicule three times, he enters the tomb in sundued lighting, for the great event. The silence is broken by a joyful cry as the surrounding crowd acclaims the kindled fire. Within seconds, the fire spreads from candle to candle thoughout the church and, even throghhout the World, for the Easter celebrations. "Christòs anèsti - alithòs anèsti" / Christ is risen! – he is risen indeed!