Patriarch Irinaios gives the Holy Light to the people outside the tomb. (AP Photo / Elizabeth Dalziel) The Holy Fire in the Holy Sepulchre, 2002. (AP Photo / Elizabeth Dalziel)

According to tradition, at noon on Holy Saturday the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irinaios entered the shrine of the Holy Sepulchre with the Armenian Patriarch (a right of the Armenian Patriarch according to the conditions governing the pilgrimages). After Patriarch Irinaios prayed in the main chamber and the Holy Fire lighted his candles he came out to the Chapel of the Archangel where the Armenian Patriarch tried violently to grab the lighted candles from his hands so that he would go out first and give the Holy Light to the people outside the tomb. A small incident occurred between them and Patriarch Irinaios managed to come out of the tomb and give the Holy Light to the people as Greek Orthodox Patriarchs do for centuries. A small fuss happened between the Armenians and the Orthodox resulting the interference of the police, who took the Armenian Patriarch out of the Holy Sepulchre.

With this action the Armenian Patriarch tried to undermine Patriarch Irinaios and the Orthodox rights in the Holy Sepulchre.

Later on Patriarch Irinaios stated that: "We are determined to give our lives to preserve our rights".