According to the news article, the Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday slammed Israel's "heavy-handed restrictions" on its upcoming Easter celebrations in Jerusalem, urging Christians to attend despite police curbs. The church said negotiations with police had failed, and that limiting church attendance to 1,800 people including clergy from the various Orthodox denominations is a necessary safety precaution. The Holy Fire ceremony, during which priests bring a flame from the tomb which they believe sparks miraculously each year, marks the most important event in the Orthodox calendar. In the past some 10,000 worshippers clutching candles would fill the church, with many more crowding into the surrounding alleys of the Old City, before the flame was flown to Orthodox communities internationally. This year, however, with the breakdown of talks between Christian leaders and Israeli security forces, the priest urged "all who wish to worship with us to attend."

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