Moscow, April 15, Interfax – The Foundation of St. Andrew the First-Called will bring the Holy Fire to Moscow from Jerusalem by the beginning of the patriarch’s service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior at the blessing of Patriarch Kirill on the Easter Saturday, April 18, the foundation’s press service told reporters on Wednesday.
It will be the 18th time (since 2003) the Holy Fire is brought from the Holy Land, the report said. The fire can only be sent to other churches after self-isolation is lifted.
“In 2020, we will organize the bringing of the Holy Fire in unprecedented conditions. The borders are closed, the flock cannot attend services in their churches. We take the decisions made by the Russian and Israel authorities with meekness and understanding and we are bringing the Holy Fire to Russia in accordance with the established and approved rules and procedures,” Alexander Gatilin, the head of the foundation’s press service, told reporters.
Representatives of the foundation will not go into the Holy Sepulcher Church, where the Holy Fire appears, this year due to the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but will wait for it aboard a plane at the Ben Gurion Airport, where the lamps with the fire will be delivered by a Russian embassy official.
interfax-religion.com