Tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians packed Jerusalem’s ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the “Holy Fire” ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter. According to believers, the divine fire from heaven miraculously lights candles held by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch each year. The annual rite held there dates back to the 4th century.

The Holy Sepulchre church itself is built on the site where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected.