Locating the Lamp and a Logical Impasse

Documentation that it is placed unlit in the Holy Sepulchre

With these thoughts tormenting me, I exited the Holy Edicule. By then, the next goal I had set had become an absolute imperative. I absolutely had to see the vessel that had never been captured by a camera lens, except on Holy Saturday, at the moment it is carried to be placed in the Holy Sepulchre. The very “Unsleeping Lamp” of the Holy Fire. If I found it, there was a way to verify Isidore’s credibility.

“Do you truly believe that the Patriarch’s candles light miraculously?” I asked him at the end of the tour. “Yes, I do,” he replied in front of my camera. A little later, however, when we went to his office, I was surprised by his following statement: “The prayer of the Holy Fire clearly speaks of the sanctification of the Light, and not of invoking a miracle. Just as water is sanctified during Epiphany. From a theological point of view, the ‘miracle’ can be questioned.” These words of his – again in front of the camera – confused me. If it could be questioned from a theological perspective, then why did he speak with certainty about a miracle? It was time to ask the “forbidden question”: “Please tell me, have you found the answer to the question of how the Holy Fire is lit?” His answer was curt: “No, I have not found it.”

It was obvious that the tour was over. For me, however, the most important part of the investigation had just begun, which is why I continued: “Do you have anything else to show us?…” “No, there is nothing else related to the ceremony,” he told me. The time had come for the most crucial question, up to that point: “Perhaps we could see… the lamp?” My heart was pounding. Everything hinged on his answer. His eyes flickered for a moment, he paused briefly, and replied: “The lamp… yes, we can see it in the sacristy.” Unspeakable joy!

He went ahead, I followed, and the camera was recording. We crossed the area of the Catholicon and entered the Sanctuary of the Church. To the left of the Holy Altar, we ascended a few steps and found ourselves in front of a large wooden door. Isidore took out his keys. The sound of the old lock echoed in the space. As soon as the door opened, we found ourselves in a small room filled with vestments, books, and various ecclesiastical objects. “From here we prepare the Holy Fire lamp, as well as the Patriarch’s candles. From here the sacristan takes the lamp and places it in the Holy Sepulchre.” We proceeded to the next room. Even smaller. In the corner was a stone staircase filled with various objects, which he removed for us to ascend. Seven steps and we arrived. Already halfway up, the “Unsleeping Lamp” became visible. Shock!

The space was messy, resembling a storage room. The lamp was on a shelf, among cardboard boxes and plastic water bottles. Dust everywhere. Isidore took the lamp in his hands: “This is the Holy Fire lamp. I put in a new wick and oil before taking it to the Holy Sepulchre.” At the same time, he opened the cover, and the oil became visible. It was almost full.

The lamp was unlit.

– So, the so-called “Unsleeping Lamp” is not, after all… unsleeping?
– No, it is not. The lamp is lit only on Holy Saturday for the ceremony. Of course, as I told you, it is placed unlit.
– It is placed unlit?
– Yes, besides, anyone around at that moment can see that it is unlit. The lamp has a mesh (small holes) and it is visible if it is lit.

This claim could easily be verified. There was already comparative material from photos and footage from several videos showing the lamp being placed in the Holy Sepulchre. In these images, no flame, no light was visible. Absolute darkness.

So, there was nothing left but to conduct the “experiment” on the spot. “Let’s light the lamp,” I told him. Isidore opened the cover, and I lit the wick with a lighter.

Immediately afterwards, he closed it. The light was coming out from the holes around and from above! It shone so brightly that I had not the slightest doubt that if it were placed lit on Holy Saturday, it would be visible.

Absolute shock. And of course, an absolute logical impasse.

Isidore was telling the truth. He places the lamp unlit in the Holy Sepulchre.

I took several photos of Isidore holding the lamp, exactly as he holds it on Holy Saturday to place it in the Holy Sepulchre. The comparison of the photos is irrefutable proof of the truthfulness of the elder sacristan and abbot of the Church of the Resurrection.

So why is the lamp placed unlit?

What is its “purpose”?

And from where does the Patriarch light his candles?

There is certainly a secret trick. What is it?

I didn’t sleep a wink that night.