The truth about the Holy Light for every Orthodox faithful comes as something very natural and self understood as is his breath. He does not need proof, or rationalizing, not even does he need to see it - since it concerns a self evident fact. However, because some waver or they have not believed to such an extent- tempted by the devil and "devils"- we offer here a historical testimony on the Holy Light. Also, these articles are significant for they indicate the truth of Orthodoxy, as the only Church of Christ, since only to the Orthodox the Holy Light is offered. Let us not forget the fact that the heretics who are willing to worship and receive the Holy Light from the hands of the Orthodox Patriarch is not a simple thing. We underline that the reliability of the testimony is authenticated by the fact it was given by a Latin (Roman Catholic) clergy eyewitness. In conclusion we publish this for the glory of God and for the rekindling of the flame of Faith, and not as proof to the unbelievers. They, through broadcasts, books and funny experiments, sign off that they "search" within burrows and while wearing hoods and earplugs.
J. Mischaud, Histoire des Croisades, Paris 1856, Vol.1, page 291. The event is narrated as follows by Archbishop and Professor Chrysostom Papadopoulos.
A Latin eyewitness, Poulherios relates that he who after this event became a Patriarch, that in that year the Holy Light would not appear at all, despite the litanies performed, during which the "Lord have mercy" was chanted by all who took part in the Litanies: "We were overcome with great sadness and sorrow. How many vociferous invocations to the Lord! How many sighs and lamentations! For in the lamentations everybody chanted the "Lord have mercy" asking with our chanting the mercy of the Lord. However, despite our supplications we never received what was asked. And already came the evening and the day came to an end and because we thought that what did not happen in the previous years was because of our sins, everyone of us decided inwardly to make good all of our transgressions to God. When the Holy Light still did not appear even during the morning of Pascha (Easter), the King, Baldwin, in despair started to pray in front of the Holy Sepulchre, while the Latin clergy found themselves in a very unpleasant situation and could not decide whether to perform or not the ceremony of Pascha (Easter) without the Holy Light. The Latin, finding themselves in such a predicament, decided to exit the Church of the Resurrection. However, the Greeks, followed by the Jacobites and the Armenians who remained inside prayed fervently, and performed the litany and entreated God and the Holy Light appeared, flooding the whole Church. With joyous cries the Latin run to the Greeks to receive the Light. We repeat that the event was narrated by a Latin eyewitness, and however one wishes to interpret it, it is incontrovertible that the Greeks, who were humiliated and ignored by the Crusaders, were elevated by this. Since then the ceremony of the Holy Light has remained a purely Greek ceremony, even during the period of the Crusaders.
This testimony is from the History of the Jerusalem Patriarchate of Archbishop Chrysostom Papadopoulos.
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