Holy Fire Ceremony in Jeopardy – Church of the Holy Sepulchre Closed

This year's Holy Fire ceremony is uncertain due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The Israeli Prime Minister's office announced that Iran has targeted holy sites with ballistic missiles, with debris landing near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Worshippers were asked not to go to the Old City of Jerusalem for safety reasons. The Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre were prevented from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Palm Sunday service. Israeli authorities are considering plans to allow worship at the holy site, but the final decision on the Holy Fire ceremony depends on the security assessment and the issuance of necessary permits. The entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is currently closed.