The annual Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will take place on Holy Saturday, April 11, even if strict security measures remain in force in Jerusalem’s Old City, according to sources in the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

Church officials said that Theophilos III is prepared to conduct the service under any circumstances. If access for pilgrims continues to be restricted, the ceremony will be held in a limited format, with only clergy उपस्थित—similar to arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the ceremony, the Holy Fire is expected to be transported to other countries in special lamps via border crossings.

The Old City of Jerusalem remains closed to tourists and worshippers amid escalating tensions and ongoing security threats. Restrictions have been imposed due to concerns over rocket fire, with access blocked not only to Christian holy sites but also to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall. Streets in the area are largely deserted, and shops and tourist infrastructure have shut down.

Despite the lockdown, regular services continue inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in accordance with longstanding religious arrangements, though without the presence of pilgrims.

Recent reports indicate that debris from Iranian missile strikes has fallen several times in the Old City. One fragment weighing approximately 200 kilograms reportedly landed near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre about a week ago, while another fell within a few hundred meters of Al-Aqsa Mosque near the walls of the Jewish Quarter.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, in a conversation with Patriarch Theophilos, described the strikes as targeting areas of significance to followers of three major religions, warning that such incidents are raising serious concern within the international community.

At the same time, some religious leaders have called for a reassessment of the restrictions. Theodosios of Sebastia urged authorities to reopen access to the church for worshippers, arguing that even under threat conditions, security measures should not entirely prevent believers from visiting holy sites—especially during the Lenten period. He suggested that it is possible to balance safety requirements with the spiritual needs of the faithful during the current period of heightened tension.