Orthodox Holy Saturday of Fire

Ethiopic monk on the
streets

The entire Old City except for the Jewish Quarter was closed off. All streets leading to the Holy Sepulchre were blocked off. Roads surrounding the Old City from the outside were also closed to traffic. The crowds of orthodox christians coming into the City was overwhelming ... waves and waves of white. That's because the vast majority of them are Ethiopic christians ... a very rare sight in Easter because the Russians and Greeks usually outnumber everyone else. But due to the economic crisis, Greeks and Cypriots have virtually disappeared, Russians and slavs were also very few this year. The Ethiopics were the largest number, followed by the Copts of Egypt.

Today is the Easter Vigil or rather for the Orthodox it's the Holy Fire. It's a weird devotion among all the Orthodox in the HolyLand because it actually becomes more important than the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. They believe that in the Empty Tomb darkened with no light, the Holy Fire suddenly appears and flickers about. Problem is only the Greek, Armenian and Coptic patriarchs are inside the Tomb to witness this and they're keeping mum about what actually happens. This "divine" fire is then shared among the people who bring it home or to their parishes. I guess it's the Orthodox version of our "Blessing of Fire" ritual on Holy Saturday. They do not have this tradition liturgically so this "miracle" of the Holy Fire takes its place. Mind you our Latin Rite in the Holy Sepulchre also has this "Holy Fire" moment ... but it is so low key that no one ever notices it. It's when the candles of the Tomb's Main Altar are lit just before the Gospel reading. The sacristan comes out of the Empty darkened Tomb with a lighted candle and lights all the candles and lamps around the Altar and Tomb.

Spinach Porridge

Ah Ling from the Chinese Restaurant cooked me some spinach porridge yesterday evening. It was simple, cleansing and nourishing. It was good to eat something warm again. My severe diarrhea, cramps and nausea are reactions to the medication I'm taking. And the depression caused by withdrawal from Prednesone is hitting me hard. Am just feeling so very sick. Not even the Holy Fire today could pick me up. Luckily I don't have live as long as the famous death of King Farouk's Tortoise, reportedly between 217 - 280 years old. It is a living lesson that despite all the political, economic and social upheavel from the Ottoman Empire through the World Wars, Bristiah Mandate, Nasser's presidency ... the tortoise survived till its reported death last week .... a true survivor and symbol of hope. Until that is, it's death ... people are saying it died of a broken heart, seeing it's country overcome by the Muslim Brtherhood. But that's what I got from the newspapers, of course.  http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/neri-livneh/mourning-king-farouk-s-ancient-beloved-turtle.premium-1.518802