Honorable Mention / 2020 / Portraiture / Culture

• Photographer
  Matty Karp, Israel
• Website
  http://mattykarp.com/

Orthodox tradition holds that the Holy Fire happens annually on the day preceding Orthodox Pascha . During this time, blue light is said to emit within Jesus Christ's tomb, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. The light is believed to form a column of fire, from which candles are lit.
Thousands of pilgrims gather in Jerusalem to partake and witness this annual event.
The Ethiopian pilgrims start their ceremony in the evening on the roof of the church.They hold candles which are lit with the Holy Fire and then they circle the roof praying and singing.