The Holy Fire, which emanated on Saturday from the tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, arrived in Beirut after it was transported by a delegation on board two Lebanese army helicopters coming from Cyprus, which landed at the air base of Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut at 6:30 p.m.

Accompanying the Holy Fire was Father Nectarios Khairallah and a number of the Orthodox Gathering members. Greeting them at Beirut airport was Minister of Public Works and Transport Michel Najjar, MP Ncoula Nahas and former MP Marwan Abou Fadel, as well as Beirut Airport Vice-Head Youssef Tannous, representative of Army Chief and Air Force Commander and representatives of the Orthodox Diocese in Lebanon.

In his word of appreciation for the efforts undertaken to transport the Holy Light to Lebanon, Minister Najjar thanked all those who contributed to its arrival, headed by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Army Chief General Joseph Aoun, Air Force Commander Brigadier Ziad Haikal, Air Base Commander and all army officers.

“It is a great honor to be here today with all of you, with the Fathers and the Excellencies, as we receive this sacred flame…This is a very important event which we await from one year to another, this sacred flame that we believe comes from the Holy Land, when the light overflows and is spread to the whole world," Najjar said.

“Today we celebrate the resurrection of Christ…in the hope that this tormented and crucified homeland will also witness resurrection, and that we all join our hands together and rise above everything that is a reason for our dispute, and that we cooperate with each other from different religions and parties in order for us to contribute to the resurrection of this homeland, so that we can all cross into a new nation…as we dream of Lebanon that is known for love, giving, beauty, and excellence," Najjar affirmed.

From the airport, the Holy Fire was transported by the priests to the Orthodox parishes in Lebanon, whereby the dates of sharing the sacred flame with the believers and church members will be announced later after the end of the general mobilization period imposed due to the Corona epidemic, so as to maintain public safety and social distancing.