Ural Airlines’ special flight is to deliver the Holy Fire from Jerusalem to Yekaterinburg on April 26, 2008. The tradition started five years ago; this year, a group of palmers was headed by the Archbishop of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturie Vikentiy.


Although transporting open fire is in no way typical of an air carrier, once a year airports and airlines agree to the exception to the rules and allow passengers with open flame on board, provided the aircraft has been specially prepared and particular safety measures have been taken, Ural Airlines’ press officer reports.


The Holy Fire will be delivered in special oil lamps, accompanied by several priests. The crew normally undergoes some preflight drill to make sure they can make this unusual flight safe. The flame is usually transported not within the cabin but inside an ad hoc area on the flight attendants’ premises.


After the landing, the oil lamps are to be transported to The Holy Trinity Cathedral, whereupon representatives of Kurgan Region, Chelyabinsk Region, Tyumen Region, and Perm Territory’s authorities will distribute the flame in their local churches.


The Holy Fire symbolizes the resurrection of Christ and has to be on in all the churches until next Easter comes.