Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has issued a strong statement condemning the actions of Israeli police during Holy Saturday celebrations in the Old City of Jerusalem, describing them as unprecedented restrictions and violations of the religious rights of Christian worshippers.

Quoting the Gospel of Matthew — *“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God”* (Matthew 5:9) — the Patriarchate’s message began with a call for peace, while sharply criticizing the security measures imposed during the traditional Holy Fire ceremony, a sacred event marking the Resurrection of Christ.

According to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Old City was effectively transformed into a “militarized zone,” with police barricades, restricted access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and documented cases of force used against scouts and pilgrims. These actions, the statement said, led to the “desecration of the sanctity of Jerusalem.”

“These reprehensible measures deprived thousands of faithful of their divine right to pray and participate in worship,” the Patriarchate said. “They stand in direct contradiction to the eternal calling of Jerusalem as a city of peace for all of God's children.” The statement cited Christ’s words: *“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”* (Mark 11:17).

The Church called upon Christians worldwide to pray for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, making special mention of the suffering of civilians in Gaza, where ongoing conflict continues to claim lives.

“May the light of the Resurrection shine again upon all the peoples of our region, bearing witness to the triumph of justice, hope, and freedom,” the statement concluded.

The annual Holy Fire ceremony took place on April 19 in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As part of the centuries-old tradition, all lights in the church are extinguished, and the Edicule (the small chapel over Christ’s tomb) is thoroughly inspected and sealed. The Patriarch of Jerusalem then enters alone to pray, and shortly after, emerges with candles lit by what believers consider the miraculous Holy Fire — a symbol of the Resurrection. The flame is then passed among the faithful and spread across Jerusalem and the Christian world.