Some Orthodox Christians drive me crazy..

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According to the Wikipedia article, a Greek author and religious historian has been able to demonstrate how the holy fire could be started by dipping candles in white phosphorus. Supposedly they will self-ignite after twenty minutes or so, after the solvent has mostly evaporated. So I guess that's the theory at the moment.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Fire

Apparently there are a lot of critics of the practice, calling it a fraud.

That's only how to get it to re-light, though. The phenomen occurs without any typical substance to light it to begin with. The white phosphorus is said to need nothing but air to ignite, so it seems more likely to be what's used in the ceremony.

After watching that video, I now think that making candles must be so boring and tedious.

I went to a Greek orthodox church once. It was pretty, and I liked the artwork better than what I've seen in some other Christian churches. The people there weren't "preachy" either. I wonder if they participate in the ceremony.

Surprising this hasn't been called out more. I'm guessing the Patriarch is alone in the tomb with no witnesses.

From what I've read, yes, he's alone. I don't know why it's not called out more. I guess it must be very important for some people to believe in.

My guess is that somebody thought it was a good idea to use it to either get more believers, or to help those who were already believers to remain faithful. And then it became tradition, and people now have to keep it up to avoid looking bad. Or they found a way to justify what they are doing in their own minds.

I definitely don't agree with faking miracles. That's one reason that I don't like the idea of Santa Claus/Father Christmas. It's a lie, and adults knowingly lie to children, thinking that it's harmless.

^ I guess their church would do a scene of drama whenever one questions them about this, and no one would want to be targeted with accusations of being anti-Christianity.

Every sect believes in some kind of miracles and supernaturals...

Most Druzes believe in incarnations, and they would air stories about interviewing kids telling their previous lives, and how they can recognize their still-living relatives from the previous life...

Many Sunni tell stories of Djinns and how some cheikh successful exorcised a djinn-haunted house they knew...

Many Shia tell stories of Imam Ali and other Imams' apparitions....etc

Many Catholics tell stories of Saints' healing, and how some doctors (always belonging to Christian institutions) investigated the cases...

I was even told by Hindus stories of the Buddha statue drinking milk....

but very few ever bullied others that they have to follow the sect (Well ISIS certainly does, but I am talking about local experiences) because of such proclaimed miracles, not to the level that I see from many Orthodoxes at this time of the year every time, they're not being harmful but the arrogance is kinda insane!

You have to live here to understand it.

We have our own arrogant religious people here. I haven't noticed it from Orthodox people, but I don't know very many.

I usually get preached to by evangelical Christians in real life. Then I've noticed that online a lot of atheists are really arrogant and call anyone who believes in anything fools. I really hate that attitude.

I haven't really noticed it from any other religions in real life, but it's probably because I'm not exposed to it.

I don't really care what other people believe in, but I really hate it when other people try to convert me or behave as if their religion makes them superior.

Many <insert name of religious followers here> can be very annoying.

No, I am not. The number of extremist Mormons who believe in faith healing is very tiny compared to the total membership, but they do exist. There are also Mormons who still practice polygamy, but again their numbers are small, and they are rejected by the central authorities in Salt Lake City. It's just that the polygamists are very visible in the media, and the faith healers aren't.

They are not stopping the stories yet:

https://www.facebook.com/fr.yowakiem/vi ... 845786576/

The nun is passing her hand quickly on the flame, and on her chin, and they're claiming this is a miracle from god.

You can do this with any candle, it doesn't have to be divine.

https://onthewaytoithaca.wordpress.com/ ... -debunked/

I kind of like the idea that the 'passing of the sacred flame' is basically worshiping chemistry

You need a few copperheads to really get it going.Don't forget the drinking of poison.
Watched a show where a herpotologist viewed one of the services.He was du founded why the snakes didn't bite.He exa de the snakes and none had been defanged or their mouth sewn shut.Some snake charmers do this with Cobras in India.There is a serpent festival in I did where the serpents are invited into the homes and saffron is sprinkled on their heads to bless them.This area of India has the least fatal bites from snakes.
I used to have about a dozen copperheads show up around the back porch in August,they never bothered me so I just watched where I stepped during that time of year.

I've been to this ceremony, and I believe in it. I have a friend who has gone twice, and her candles lit up entirely by themselves, before anyone even passed the fire to her. Yes, I've seen people passing their faces through it. Why don't you all just take turns slapping me? Telling me I'm stupid, arrogant, etc. It's amazing to me that you all can think that religious people are being "annoying" and can't see how annoying you lot can be.

I'm Orthodox myself, but I find the sort of behaviour the OP describes - which I've witnessed numerous times - rather foolish. The religious symbolism behind it is perfectly clear and unquestionable, and I don't doubt the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion. But it may have something to do with the climate in the Middle East. The miracle of the burning bush is sometimes attributed to the herb, dittany, which in hot dry weather will catch light spontaneously.

Most Orthodox people don't behave like this, although our beliefs are what they are. We tend not to proselytize.

On the subject of the eternal flame, I remember discussing this with a 12-year old boy from a devout Orthodox family as we were processing round the church at the Easter midnight liturgy (as seen in the video). He laughed and said: 'Meh, the bishop just gets a cigarette lighter and light the first candle ...'

Which pretty much sums it up.