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1. First Study in 2008
At
Pascha of 2008, the Russian physicist Andrei Alexandrovich Volkov of
the Kurchatov Institute was placed at the head of a scientific mission
whose purpose was to investigate the miracle of the Holy Light.
The undertaking was organized by Professor Alexander Moskovsky, for the needs of a documentary that was dedicated to the role of miracles in religion.
On Holy Saturday of 2008, at about 09:00 in the morning, Andrei Volkov entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, together with the appropriate equipment. The main instrument that he used for his measurements was a digital oscilloscope, connected to a laptop that was equipped with the appropriate operating program.
He was at a distance of approximately ten meters from the Holy Tomb, and his primary priority was to record the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation at specific frequencies.
The results of his measurements and the conclusions drawn from them he describes one year later, on April 21, 2009, in the following interview in the Russian newspaper Beware (Vera):
Therefore, according to the Russian physicist Andrei Alexandrovich Volkov, the plasma phenomenon that is estimated to take place inside the Temple is, from a scientific point of view, inexplicable and unjustifiable.
The peak moment for his measurements, however, came at the time of the appearance of the Holy Light, when the Patriarch was enclosed inside the Tomb.
Thus, Andrei Volkov states in summary that shortly before the appearance of the Holy Light there took place and were scientifically recorded three inexplicable events:
These three events, which were recorded simultaneously, he characterizes as "incredible and fully inexplicable."
The research of Andrei Volkov presents very great interest and constitutes a completely different approach to the miracle of the Holy Light — purely scientific.
The undertaking was organized by Professor Alexander Moskovsky, for the needs of a documentary that was dedicated to the role of miracles in religion.
On Holy Saturday of 2008, at about 09:00 in the morning, Andrei Volkov entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, together with the appropriate equipment. The main instrument that he used for his measurements was a digital oscilloscope, connected to a laptop that was equipped with the appropriate operating program.
He was at a distance of approximately ten meters from the Holy Tomb, and his primary priority was to record the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation at specific frequencies.
The results of his measurements and the conclusions drawn from them he describes one year later, on April 21, 2009, in the following interview in the Russian newspaper Beware (Vera):
— Andrei Alexandrovich, why did you in particular go to investigate the nature of the Holy Light? Does this coincide with your scientific field?
"For the last 12 years I have been engaged in what is called low-temperature plasma."
— What is that?
"In a plasma state exists the greater part of the matter of the universe: the stars, the galactic clouds, the interstellar environment. It is a highly ionized gas! On Earth itself, however, this is a rare phenomenon, which we have learned to create relatively recently. For example, in surgery they have begun to use 'scalpels' from a very thin stream of plasma, which is heated to 5000–7000 degrees. This is high-temperature plasma, with which we can only cut matter. But there is also low-temperature plasma, about 40–80 degrees, which can heal wounds. With the creation of such medical 'healing' devices I also concern myself, and we have already begun their production."
— And what is the connection with the Holy Light?
"Judging from the numerous descriptions, the appearance of the Holy Light is accompanied by the appearance of plasma, which externally very much resembles low-temperature plasma. For example, it is known that for some time this Light does not burn the hands and the face at all. Also, for almost a thousand years eyewitnesses speak about certain flashes that run along the walls of the Temple both before and after the coming of the Light."
— Are such plasma phenomena unique?
"Of course. In the laboratory we study low-temperature plasma only in a vacuum. In air it can also exist, but only under strictly defined conditions and under very high humidity. But above the Tomb of the Lord at Pascha it is warm and the atmosphere is dry; there is no humidity that conducts electricity and there is no source of strong potential difference. Meanwhile, flashes appear there, luminous beams which in my opinion are later transformed into a spark and give birth to the Light."
Therefore, according to the Russian physicist Andrei Alexandrovich Volkov, the plasma phenomenon that is estimated to take place inside the Temple is, from a scientific point of view, inexplicable and unjustifiable.
The peak moment for his measurements, however, came at the time of the appearance of the Holy Light, when the Patriarch was enclosed inside the Tomb.
"The unexpected measurement was recorded at 14:04 Jerusalem time. It had been some time since the Patriarch of Jerusalem had entered the Edicule; the ceremony had begun and suddenly — there it was!A change in the radiation spectrum was recorded due to an unknown signal. This occurred at 14:04. A fluctuation, and nothing else similar. About two minutes later the Patriarch of Jerusalem appeared with lit candles."
— And what kind of fluctuation was this?
"An electrical charge. What it is, from where it came, I do not know.
Later, having already returned to Russia, I dealt with the decoding of the recorded radio signals. The process (of the measurements) lasted six hours and thirty minutes. One measurement includes around a thousand 'frames.' Quite tiring work.
But the following was confirmed: before the appearance of the Light there was an electrical discharge… I cannot now tell you details because I am bound by agreement with the creator of the documentary. The mapping of the measurements will be set out there in detail.
But the most important thing I have already said: it was an Electrical Discharge.
Why is this important? You see, here a complete picture is formed. I have already told you about the plasma phenomena which in themselves are a miracle, since in the Temple there are not even the slightest conditions for their creation.
The second inexplicable fact is the electrical charging of the air, which is evident even without instruments. Many feel that at the coming of the Holy Light the hairs on their hands stand on end. This is possible only under a very great difference of electrical potentials, say between the roof of a house and the floor of the ground level. And that, if the house is made of pure quartz and outside there is a storm. But at Pascha in Jerusalem, as a rule, no storm occurs; the weather is clear. And the Temple of the Lord itself is built of various materials — marble, calcareous stones, wood. It has been built without a unified plan and has a multitude of various auxiliary spaces. Therefore, the suspicion that from the beginning a huge transformer had been placed inside it, necessary for the accumulation of electrical charge and its subsequent discharge, is simply unrealistic. And yet, the difference of electrical potentials is nevertheless created!
And note — on a specific day, Pascha, after the prayers in the Edicule!
And here there appears before us the final aspect that we discovered — the appearance of the Light is accompanied by an electrical discharge. That is, this means that the appearance of the Light is an inseparable part of all these incredible, fully inexplicable phenomena that have an electrical nature.
Is this not a confirmation of its miraculous nature?"
Thus, Andrei Volkov states in summary that shortly before the appearance of the Holy Light there took place and were scientifically recorded three inexplicable events:
"The first is the unjustifiable presence of the plasma phenomenon, which, as he says, is in itself a 'miracle.'
The second is the likewise unjustifiable and inexplicable electrical charging of the air together with the verification of a large difference in electrical potential.
The third is the presence of an electrical discharge at the moment of the appearance of the Holy Light."
These three events, which were recorded simultaneously, he characterizes as "incredible and fully inexplicable."
The research of Andrei Volkov presents very great interest and constitutes a completely different approach to the miracle of the Holy Light — purely scientific.
The
results of his measurements, according to himself, constitute "a
confirmation of the miraculous nature of the phenomenon. And this alone
says much…."
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Volkov
observed how the Patriarch of Jerusalem, having removed his vestments,
in a single shirt entered the Edicule (the chapel in the Temple) with a
bundle of candles. The people, having fallen still, awaited the miracle... That the miracle had occurred, Andrei Alexandrovich Volkov knew before everyone who was in the church — his instruments detected a sharp surge!
"During six hours of observation of the electromagnetic background in the church, precisely at the moment of the descent of the Holy Light the instrument recorded an increase in the intensity of radiation by two times. Now it is clear that the Holy Light is not created by people. This is not deception, not a hoax: its material 'traces' can be measured!"— In essence, can this unexplainable surge of energy be called a message from God?"Many believers think exactly so. This is the materialization of the Divine, a miracle. No other word can be found. The design of God cannot be forced into mathematical formulas. But the Lord, by this miracle, every year gives us a sign that the Orthodox faith is true!"
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
2. Second Study in 2016
Archpriest Gennady Zaridze used a pyrometer, which, by means of a non-contact infrared thermometer, measures the temperature of the surface of an object.
Sept. 1, 2016
RIA Novosti
The
temperature of the Holy Light in the first minutes after its descent is
about 40 degrees Celsius, therefore one can wash with it and it does
not burn, reported in an interview with RIA Novosti
the head of the Association of Orthodox Scientists, rector of the
Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Voronezh
region, Archpriest Gennady Zaridze.
"With
the help of a pyrometer I recorded the temperature of the Holy Light
immediately after its descent: I washed myself with this fire (it does
not scorch!) and immediately measured its temperature on myself and on
those next to me who had the fire nearby—and the average temperature was
42 degrees Celsius. When after 15 minutes I again measured the
temperature, it was already 320 degrees Celsius," said the priest, who
for many years has been engaged in the study of miracles by means of
natural-scientific methods.
For
measuring the temperature of the Holy Light, Zaridze used a pyrometer,
which, by means of a non-contact infrared thermometer, measures the
temperature of the surface of an object. The object was a silver plate
five millimeters wide and one millimeter thick. Since silver is one of
the most thermally conductive metals, the plate placed in the fire
instantly acquires the temperature of the flame.
Zaridze visited the Holy Land in April of this year at Pascha by invitation of the St Andrew the First-Called Foundation and with the blessing of Metropolitan Sergius of Voronezh and Liskinsky.
"I
have no doubt that the Holy Light is a manifestation of the grace of
God, that it is a certain mercy of God to the sinful world for the
support and strengthening of faith," the priest noted in the interview
with RIA Novosti. He added that cases of healing during the descent of the Holy Light are known.
The priest also recounted that in 2008 a scientist from the Russian Research Center "Kurchatov Institute," Andrei Alexandrovich Volkov,
came to observe the descent of the Light and brought with him an
instrument that recorded various spectra of electromagnetic radiation.
And he was the first, even before the Patriarch came out with the Holy
Light to the people, to learn from the instrument readings that the
Light had descended, since the instruments recorded a very powerful
electrical discharge.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
