Palestinian Orthodox Christians hold 'Holy Fire' ceremony in Jerusalem

Tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians gathered in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday to celebrate the Holy Fire ceremony on the eve of the Orthodox Easter.

More than seven thousand pilgrims filled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with candles in hand while thousands more stood in the square outside to receive the flame, which represents the resurrection of Christ.

The flame is passed from candle to candle and will be taken back to Orthodox churches worldwide.

The church is built on the site where according to Christian tradition Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

The ceremony is the holiest event for Orthodox Christianity.

Eastern Orthodox Christians mark Easter on 8 April, while Western Christians marked the holiday last Sunday.

Palestinian Orthodox Christians had limited their celebrations on Palm Sunday, restricting the occasion to religious rituals in solidarity with protesters killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the rest of the Old City lies in East Jerusalem, occupied and later annexed by Israel following the Six Day War of 1967.

The Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Roman Catholic denominations share custody of the church.

Christians made up more than 18 percent of the population of the Holy Land when Israel was founded in 1948, but now form less than two percent, mostly Orthodox.

Israeli police, which secure the event, said it took place without any disturbances.