Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-06-22
From the New Monthly Magazine.]
The Holu Sepulchre.

Having engaged with Father G. to
visit the church of the Holy Sepulchre,
we went there in the evening, and pass
ing through the court entered the first
lofty apartment. There was a guard
of Turks iii a recess just within the door,
to whom every pilgrim is obliged to pay
a certain sum for admission; but we
were exempted from this lax. In the
middle Of the first apartment is large
marble slab, raised above the floor, over
which lamps are suspended: this is said
10 be the space where the body of the
Redeemer was amounted and prepared
for the sepulchre. You then turn TO
the left, and enter the large rotunda,
which terminates in dome at the top.
In the centre of the floor stands the ho-
ly sepulchre; it is of an oblong form,
and composed of very fine reddish
stone brought from the Red Sea, that
has quite the appearance of marble.
Ascending two or three low steps, and
taking off your shoes, you enter the
first small apartment, which is foored
with marble, and the walls lined with
the same. In the centre is low shaft
Of white marble, being the spot to which
the angel rolled the stone from the
tomb, and sat on it. You now stoop
low to enter the narrow door that con-
ducts to the side OF the sepulchre. The
tomb is Of a light brown and white mar.
BILE, about six feet long and three feet
high, and the same number in breadth
being joined to the wall. Between the
sepulchre and the opposite wall the
space is very confined, and not more
than four or five persons can remain in
it at time. The floor and the walls
are of beautiful marble; the apart.
ment is square of about seven feet
and small dome rises over it, from
which are suspended twenty-seven large
silver lamps richly chased and of ele.
giant workmanship, presents from Rome.
of the courts, and religious orders Of
Europe: these are kept always burning,
and cast flood of light on the sacred
tomb, and the paintings hung over it
one Romisb aud other Greeks, repre-.
senting our Lords ascension and his
appearance to Mary in the garden.-A
Greek or Romish priest always stands
here with the silver vase of Holy in.
cense in his hand, which he sprinkles
over the pilgrims. Wishing to see the
behavior. of these people,, who come
from all parts ofthe world, and undergo
the severest difficulties to arrive at this
holy spot, we remained for some time
within it, and the scene was very in.
teresting.-They entered, Armenians,
Greeks, and Catholics, of both sexes.
with the deepest awe and venera,ioD,
and instantly fell on their knees: some.
lifting their eyes to the paintings, burst
into a flood Of tears; others pressed
their heads with fervor on the tomb
and sought to embrace it, while the ga
cred incense fell in showers, and was
received with delight by all. 1t was
impossible for the looks and gestures Of
repentance, grief. and alteration, to be
apparently more heartfelt and sincere
than on this occasion.--Yet other feel
ings were admitted by some who took
advantage of the custom of placing
beads and crosses on the tomb to be
saoctlhed by the holy incense, to place
large heap on it of these articles,
which being sprinkled and rendered in
estimable, they afterwards carried to
their native countries, and sold at a
high price.
From the London Morning Chronicle
Religious Houses IN France.