JERUSALEM, April 19 (UPI) -- Candles lit Sunday from a single flame in Jerusalem were carried to Bethlehem, Moscow and Athens to mark Easter for Orthodox Christians, church officials said.
In Jerusalem, an estimated 10,000 people crowded the Church of the Holy Sepulchre -- Christianity's holiest shrine -- for the Holy Fire Ritual symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus, the BBC reported.
In keeping with ancient tradition, the Greek Orthodox patriarch lit an oil lamp in the darkened church and a candle lit from the lamp then was used to spread light from one candle to another throughout the crowd filled with eastern Orthodox pilgrims, the BBC reported.
Another 30,000 worshipers waited outside to light candles, one of which was taken to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus.
Flaming candles were taken aboard special flights to Athens and other cities, including Moscow, where the Russian Orthodox patriarch shared the flame with an estimated 5,000 worshipers at Christ the Savior Cathedral, RIA Novosti reported.
Worshipers in Moscow included Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, RIA Novosti reported.
