Orthodox Christians hold 'Holy Fire' ceremony in Jerusalem

Tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered at Christianity's holiest site in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

Orthodox Christian worshippers gather at the Tomb of Christ as they wait for the miracle of the Holy Fire ceremony to occur, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Source: AAP

With candles in hand, at least seven thousand pilgrims filled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

The church is built on the site where according to Christian tradition Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

Thousands more stood in the square outside to receive the flame, representing the resurrection of Christ, which passed from candle to candle and will be taken back to Orthodox churches worldwide.

The ceremony is the holiest event for Orthodox Christianity.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the rest of the Old City lies in east Jerusalem, occupied and later annexed by Israel following the Six Day War of 1967.

The Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Roman Catholic denominations share custody of the church.

Christians made up more than 18 percent of the population of the Holy Land when Israel was founded in 1948, but now form less than two percent, mostly Orthodox.

Israeli police, which secure the event, said it took place without any disturbances.