Skopje, 15 April 2023 (MIA) — А delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Macedonian Orthodox Church attended Saturday the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's Service of the Holy Light in Jerusalem, Israel, before receiving the Holy Light from the Patriarch of Jerusalem himself as a blessing for the country's believers and the church, the government said in a press release.

According to the release, the Service of the Holy Light held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was attended by many international delegations and clergy, who were to receive the Holy Light and carry it back to their countries.

"The purpose of sending the delegations to Jerusalem is the miracle of the descent of the Holy Light in Jerusalem, which happens every year during the special Orthodox service on Holy Saturday at noon, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, ahead of the midnight announcement of Christ's resurrection," the release says.

"Despite the fences of science, attendees have perceived the supernatural character of the phenomenon for centuries, bearing witness to the descent of the uncreated Holy Light lighting the candle of the Holy Sepulchre without human intervention," the release continues, adding that the Patriarch of Jerusalem lights believers' candles from this flame.

North Macedonia's delegation is led by Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski and includes Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska, State Commission for Relations with Religious Communities and Groups director Darijan Sotirovski, Macedonian Orthodox Church Metropolitan of Tetovo and Gostivar Josif Todorovski and several members of the clergy.

They will carry the Holy Light in a lantern to Skopje, where they will land at Skopje's International Airport on Sunday at 8 pm and be met with honors by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and church officials. mr/