ナショナルジオグラフィックのインスタグラム(natgeo) - 11月21日 13時52分
Photo by @ジョン・スタンメイヤー for @ナショナルジオグラフィック
Eruptions of joy as candles are carried around the Tomb of Christ during the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepluchre, Jerusalem, April 19, 2014.
Few years ago I was researching for a National Geographic story proposal under the theme, "Miracles of Faith". Chatting with Alex, the deacon at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in the Berkshires of Massachusetts where I live, his interest perked when I asked what miracles are believed to happen in the Orthodox faith.
Leaning over, almost whispering, Alex shared what he said was the incredible miracle known as Holy Fire.
The day preceding Orthodox Easter, archbishops of both Greek and Armenian Orthodox Church's enter what is believed to be the Tomb of Christ inside the Holy Sepluchre.
With unlit candles, it is believed that blue light emanating within Christ's tomb lights the candles. It also is said some candles held in hands of faithful within the church spontaneously light.
In Jerusalem earlier this year for part III of the @OutofEdenWalk project for NatGeo I had the privilege to photograph this sacred event.
With the help of my friend, Garo, I was smack center at the sealed Tomb of Christ within the packed church.
As Alex told, both archbishops entered with unlit candles in what appeared to be a dark tomb, minutes later stepping out to a cacophony of screams, cheers, holding lit candles in hand.
While photographing this spectacular event — avoiding being trampled or burned — I could not see how or why the fire spread so quickly, candle to candle, among thousands within the church. This photograph fell to the editing floor, I feel it illustrates the beautiful devotion of faith and passion of Holy Fire.
Another image from Holy Fire appears in the Dec issue of National Geographic, "Blessed. Cursed. Claimed”, part III of the Out of Eden Walk project, now available on newsstands and in your mailboxes.
And by the way Alex was right — it was incredible.
All my best, John Stanmeyer
@thephotosociety #HolyFire #ChurchoftheHolySepluchre #Orthodox #Christianity #Jerusalem #MiddleEast #candles @VIIphoto
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