The remarkable Hegumen Daniel, who lived in the twelfth century, describes in his "Life and Pilgrimage of Hegumen Daniel of the Russian Land" how he petitioned King Baldwin I for leave to place a kandilo (a lamp) on the Holy Sepulchre on behalf of the who

Leave was granted, and he lit the lamp on the Sepulchre, naming all the princes, princesses and all the people of the Russian Land. What joy there was when the lamp caught fire, while the Latin lamps did not kindle.

Daniel is certain that, since the lamp was lit on behalf of the whole Russian Land, this is a blessing for the whole Russian land.

Today, on Russia Day, one wishes that the lamp of the whole Russian Land may never go out.

"On Great Friday, after the evening service, they wipe down the Lord's Sepulchre and wash all the lamps, and pour oil into them without water, pure oil alone. And having set the wicks in the tin holders, they do not light them, but leave them unlit in the lamps.

Then I, the poor and unworthy one, went on that Friday at the first hour of the day to Prince Baldwin and bowed to him down to the ground. And he, seeing me, poor as I am, called me to him with kindness and asked: 'What do you wish, Russian hegumen?' And I said to him: '...I ask you for the sake of God and the princes of Russia, permit me to set my lamp upon the holy Sepulchre on behalf of the whole Russian land.'

Then he graciously and kindly permitted me to set a lamp upon the Lord's Sepulchre, and sent with me a man, his best servant, to the steward of the Church of the Resurrection and to the attendant who keeps the key of the Sepulchre. The steward and the keeper of the key of the holy Sepulchre allowed me to bring my lamp with its oil.

I set it with my own sinful hands at the feet, where the most pure feet of Christ had lain. At the head stood the Greek lamp, and on the breast was set the lamp of the monastery of Saint Sabbas and of all the other monasteries. By the grace of God all three of these lamps were then lit. But the Catholic lamps were hung up above, and not one of them kindled. And I, having set my lamp, bowed before the venerable Sepulchre and kissed with love and with tears the Holy Place where the body of Christ had lain, came out of the Sepulchre with great joy and went to my cell."