Greek Airlines Carry Holy Light from Jerusalem on Easter

On Easter Saturday, Greek airlines continued the revered tradition of transporting the Holy Light from Jerusalem to Greece. This sacred flame, central to Greek Orthodox celebrations, was flown to Athens before being distributed to 16 destinations across the country.

The ritual begins at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where the Holy Light is ceremoniously lit. From there, Aegean Airlines, Greece's flag carrier, transported the flame to Athens International Airport. Upon arrival, the sacred flame received a formal Head of State welcome, underscoring its cultural and spiritual significance.

Once in Athens, the flame was quickly transferred to flights operated by Aegean, Olympic Air, and SKY Express. These special services ensured the Holy Light reached various churches in time for the Easter services, symbolizing peace and renewal. The first church to receive the flame was the Church of Agioi Anargyroi, approximately one hour after the flame landed in Athens.

The tradition extends beyond Greece, with countries such as Russia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, and Serbia also participating in similar rituals. These nations send delegations to Jerusalem to bring the Holy Light to their respective territories, highlighting the widespread reverence for this tradition among Orthodox Christian communities.