Miracle of the holy light in Jerusalem

[paul tabbah]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recently, I was asking on the miracle of the "Holy light", that do occur in Jerusalem every Easter Saturday. Many sites do discribe details about it, with some pictures and such... You can take for example: http://www.patriarchofjerusalem.com/en/holylight.asp

I asked various people if they heard about that matter and most of them replied negatively, and were doupting the genuinity of the event, wondering why is not being broadcasred live on TV for example to show such glorious miracle, and in case is genuine why majority of us is not aware of it since is happening on a yearly frequency for centuries. They concluded that they can't confirm anything about the event genuinity to me, since they don't know it.

Can anyone comment on that, and in case this is true, why the matter is still falling under the very deep ignorance of many people and among them, surprisingly many RC officials for example.

In Christ, we remain, with u all.
Thank You

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Perhaps we have a hard time accepting such miracles because of our pride. If we are self-sufficient and not aware of our dying need for Christ's grace we deprive ourselves of His grace. Then life is flat and without the miracle of Christ's life-giving presence & we take this as normal. It's like living in a grey fog all the time and not knowing how wonderful sunshine is. So if we are humble & try to repent we will sense the miracle of Christ's presence- then other miracles will be natural for us.

Would you be able to comment on the changing situation in your country? Are all or most Christians (especially Orthodox) in favour of the changes? I hope I am not putting you in a difficult situation by asking such questions.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Aaron Warwick]

I think the fact that the miracle of the Holy Light is not widely publicized gives it more credibility. We don't see anywhere that I can think of in the Gospels where our Lord heals someone and then 'shows off.' He was actually rather discreet about it, in some cases telling those healed not to tell anyone that it was Him who healed them.

On the other hand, we have many others today--such as 'charismatics' and/or 'pentecostals'--who tout their miracles even on TV. These same people tend to be the ones that get caught embezzling money from viewers or being involved in sex rings.

Aaron

[nurse-aid]

and anyway Holy Communioun is the Miracale...for those who expiriensed by themself its effect...and even if it shown on tv, it do not change it Miraculas meaning, even if others do not see anyhting...

[paul tabbah]

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Thanks for comments, u all made good understandable points. However, our Lord said that no one makes light and hides it under an obstacle (matt 5.15)(luke 8.16)... sure this means something more adequate than what meant before, but is just for our notes for now.

Still, ignorance of such, specialy by some church officials is not something nice to feel. Many individuals were not been told about such, which lead to depriving them from such glory. I think we must be generous in action of the Truth for all.

Plz comments more.
In Christ, we remain, with u all.
Thank You

[Denise Marie Johnson]

Maybe I am cynical about the media, but I think they do not want to cover miracles because it is not a subject they believe in themselves. There are many Catholic miracles as well that do not get publicity. If they were well known, then more people would believe.... not what the media in general wants.
denise

[M.C. Steenberg]

The light to be sat on a stand is that of Christ, not his miracles. Miracles are gifts given to aid our infirmity. They are like treasures, to be guarded and protected. They are meaningless apart from the life in Christ in which they are given.

To set a miracle 'on a lampstand', especially in the modern world, would only fuel the secular fascination with the 'magical' and 'supernatural'.

INXC, Matthew

[Mother Evfrosinia]

Christ is Risen!
I'm catching up after a long absence.
Interestingly enough, this year on Great and Holy Saturday, one of the channels on French television broadcast the entire patriarchal Paskha service from Moscow, followed by a very reverent and informative film about the Miracle of the Holy Fire made in Russia and dubbed in French. So even today's media can do some missionary work from time to time.