Pilgrims and tourists are not allowed in the Old City of Jerusalem

Police block the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem (Israel), where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located, for visitors, including pilgrims and tourists.

This year, Israeli law enforcement officers introduced serious security measures during the most important religious holidays, which coincided with the followers of three Abrahamic religions — Easter events for Christians, the seven-day Jewish Passover (Passover) for Jews and the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.

At the moment, only individual organized groups and officially accredited media representatives are allowed to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the Holy Fire is expected to descend today. Hundreds of believers gathered at the walls of the Old City in the hope of getting to the shrines outside its walls.

According to the police, during the ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire, the number of visitors to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will be limited to 1,800 people. In previous years, up to 10,000 pilgrims could attend the ceremony.