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Each year on Pascha, an awe-inspiring event takes place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarch of Jerusalem]] together with the Armenian Patriarch enter the Sepulchre and pray. After they are finished, a miraculous light appears--— the Patriarch of Jerusalem lights two candles from it, then exits the sepulchre and lights the candles of other patriarchs and bishops outside. Others' candles light spontaneously. For the first several minutes from the fire's appearance, it does not burn to the touch and many pilgrims immerse their faces and hands in the flame without being harmed.

Known as the Holy Light, or Holy Fire, this miracle has been occuring in this same place since at least the fourth century, if not earlier. In the 19th century, when the Orthodox patriarch had been shut out of the sepulchre by the Turkish ruler (Ibrahim Pasha), the holy fire split open a column outside the church [http://www.zeitun-eg.org/image2.jpg] to reach the Orthodox patriarch and believers. The split column is still part of the church. Several other incidents (including two 11th century Roman Catholic priests who received God's punishment for attempting to obtain the Holy Fire for themselves) attest to the miracle's antiquity and authenticity.