Bethlehem fire was kindled in the Cathedral Greek Catholic Cathedral of Uzhgorod (PHOTOS)

The Peace Fire of Bethlehem is an international annual scout event timed to celebration of Christmas, during which they distribute the symbolic fire lit at the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

The event was launched in 1988 by the Austrian radio broadcaster as a charitable act – to bring the light from the symbolic birthplace of Jesus Christ to those who celebrate Christmas away from home – in hospitals, orphanages and more. That same year, the initiative was taken up by Vienna scouts and the main initiator was the scout leader Berthl Grunwaldt.

For the first time, the Fire was brought to Ukraine back in 1992, but as a private initiative of some scouts. The official count is from 1998, when the Fire was transferred to Ukraine at the customs checkpoint. 

The Bethlehem Fire, which symbolizes warmth, peace, harmony and hope, is spread in Ukraine by scouts. The fire is passed from city to city and brought to churches, government agencies, schools, orphanages and hospitals.

In December 2009, a delegation of Plast brought the Fire to Ukrainian communities of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The transfer of the Fire took place in Ukrainian churches in Vilnius, Tallinn and Jelgava.

Scouts pass the Peace Fire of Bethlehem to all its branches, thus every year it gets to all regions of Ukraine – from Donetsk to Transcarpahia.

Since 2008, the Plast, as Scout Organization of Ukraine, officially receives the Bethlehem Fire from scouts of Austria during the solemn ceremony in Vienna. 

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