The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1852-07-22
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The church of the Holy Sepulchre
q posessssd BY The Las;ss, Grveks,
Amea!aaa, Copta aud Abysinians.
Ibe 0rseks are the richest and are
sadse he immediate protection Of
haes1a. snd they monopoliss all Tie
ssse P'scss IN The church, except The
ceR.lshre iees'G The exterioe Of he
nsadag = Bysandns. TIE interior
- - architectural peetensisas o.
10y: The Whole middle space y
nessd. ierming . eAsrsA viahia .
50 and - insscssrS1 T. - Gssok
t af ~ ~ s10
+ MM ~ ~ ~ y
slu.s III Npod ~ 11U0Sf - e.
chapel efs brood passages n wAish
ere shown several spoes q stadissoAal
inserest--ts that where the Post a
Flaggsltation stood--which post you
may zee, and that where the clothing
was divided. Finally. you ascend .
steep staircase and reach . small NJ
per chapel, which Is Calvary, and a
circular spot under the altar is the
exact site Of the cross.
The interior Of the church Is bare
and desotate. The scant and dirty
hangings and trappangs. the misera-
bic pictures, the soiled artificial 6ow.
srs, the entire dsarth Of grace and
delicacy are very mournful. There
is not . solemn spot in the building,
but the tomb itself. A motley crowd
Is constantly swarming through the
passages, and there is tho perpetual
scuiiling Of many feet and the hum Of
hushed voices. The finest 6gurss
are the Dedoueen Of the desert, who
stand in postures Of natural grace
and dignity, and who, with the flow.
ing sobes and brilliant Mecca hand.
kerchiefs, wreathed around their
heads, make the only picturesque ard
pleasing gsoups.
The Greek pilgrims arc most nu-
mcrous, and entirely surpass the Lat.
in 10 the fervor OF sbsir devotions.
have never seen anything so abiec,
a. their conduct before the altar in
the Calvary chapel. You can scarce
ly recognize them AZ mon, 80 ssuksu
do they look in degraded ignorance.
Their genuaexions are remarkable
for their magical suppleness. They
stand, rapidly repeating prayef5 be.
fore the altar. and then fall to lheir
knees, upon their faces, touching their
foreheads, and kissing the foor.-
Then up again, and down with imcred.
ible eeierAy.
Thh continues sometimes for half
hour, and they then stroll away
through the church. buying crosscs
beads, and mother.of- pearl shell.
made at Bethlehem.
Directly under the dome q the
church, is the Scpulchre itself. II
is inclosed in small temple, divided
into swo parts, OF which tfe hrst 's AZ
snte'rcon' snd the other q SINAI! ca1'
met IN which 70 the small tomb
Tho ante'rocm !, hung with lamps
and q Priest stands at the door, shut
aing the crowds Of worshipPers to anc
tro' aud taking snuf in the intervals
But be has great respect for persons
TOR when We appeared, although n
said we were heret'cs, he hustled tn
unwashed company from the door
md greeting ID - English, smilingl!.
ushersd Us in.
The air Of the outer room wa
warm and odmous wf:h incense
Yhs fsHhfuf we're kneeI'ng on tn
soor, weeping, kissing the pavement
and muttering prayers. From th'
interior room the pilgrims were com
ing out backward and with bent heads
They paid no attention to our fran'
costume, they were Wraps in emo
ton.
Ne entered shs interior sabinet
half Of which u occupied BY the tomt
liz n covered with q marble slab
srsoo&h With the myrtsd kisses Of gen
erssions over it Il q narrow marbl
|. shsK, along which ars Arranged arti
iaSssa 49, u = 49, Ia .>Hl