The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-07-21
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THE HOLY PLACES:

Ihe CourTler Qes EtatS UniS IuTIisnSs the ioi
loving interesting account OF the 'flosy Places,
ghie,i is translated by the Boston Traveller =
- For some ff 1ths these three words have form
ed the pivot of European politics. Few per-
sons, however, know their real meaning. Al
the present moment 1t is important to under
stand them. They signify, literally, the sane
tuaiies, churches, or chapels, which have been
constructed upon the places where the principal
events in the life of Christ occurred,
There are Holy Places, not only a Jerusalem
about the Holy Sepulchre, which for many
ages have been the object of the veneration OF
CHRISTIAN people-but at Nazareth, at Bethie-
hem, at Shechem, ut Cana, at Tiberias, Mount
O.i,e., at Gethsemane, at Tabor, and at Sebus-
tech (Samaria.) AS to the sanctuaries, many OF
them We perished under the effects of time,
and 1t is only in the midst of their ruins that
pilgrims seek pious associations Thus, the
churc which He sna caused to be built over
Jacobs Well at Shechem, where Christ had the
mem ,rable conversation wlh the woman of Sa-
maria, no longer presents any other objects OF
regard than the face of wall or broken pillar.
The same may Je said of the Church of the
Transhg guration, ut Mount Tabor.
Besides, the Musselmen have seized, by strata
gem or by violence. some of the sanctuaries not
the least renowned in Christian antiquity. The
Church OF the Present alton, built by the Empe-
ror JuStInian within the grounds of the Temple,
has been usurped for the purpose of a mosque.
The Mussuimans have also destroyed the Church
of the Hoy Apostles, upon Mount Zion, built
IN the l4th century, in the most beautiful gothic
style, by the Franciscans. This church was held
in high veneration, because it enclosed within
lite walls the spots where the sacrament of the
Eucharist was instituted, where Christ triumph
ed over the inoredulity OF Thomas, and where
the Hoy Spirit descended upon the Apostles on
the Day of Pentecost. The process by which
the Mussulnans effected the usurpation of this
church is worthy of being stated. A Turkish
monk, who had often extorted money from the
Eranciscans 5y threatening TO convert the hurch
of the Apostles into mosque, entered the church,
one day, with = company Of fanatics, and com
menced the perversion Of it By performing his
devotions there. This was in the year 1927,
sooi after The conquest of the Otromans. The
church Is now III a ruined and desolate condition.
The Mussulmans have likewise converted into n
M sue the Sanctuary of the Ascension, upon
the mount OF Olives. The enclosure, of an oc-
tagon form, and in the Roman style, remains
although it has been materially reduced in
height. An elegant edifce, of white marble. in
the centre, indicates the spot from whence the
Saviour assembled to Heaven.
The Roman Catholics possess, exclusively.
four sanctuaries, viz:-l. The Grotto and
Church OF the sAnnuncaricn Mt Nazareth. This
grotto still bears traces of the restorations,
which which were executed by order of the mo-
ther OF Constantine. The church was built by
the Franciscans. g The Antique Church at
T.b US, called the Vocation of st Peter. g.
The Church of the Fiagellation. restored in S26
by the Franciscans. 4. The Grotto of the Ago
ny at Gethsemane. The schisnatic Greeks pos
se only the little Church of Cana of Galilee
where The miracle of changing water into wine
was wrought.
The Holy Places which are common to the
Christian cummunions and which are now sub.
lects OF controversy, are three in number name
ly, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at Jeru
salem the Church of the Nativity, at Bethle-
hem, said to have been built by the Empress
Helena, which still bears traces IF it's Grecian
origin, and is alleged to be the most chnste ar
chitectural building now remaining in Palestine:
and the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin, at
Gethsemane.
In describing these sanetuaries. about which
the East IS now divided, and which threaten the
peace of Europe, we begin naturally with the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the most impor-
tant and the most venerable of the Christian
sanctuaries in Palestine. The Christian sects
which have privileges in the interior of this
church, are the Greeks, the Armenians, the
Copts, the Abyssinians, and the Syrians The
monks and friars of these various communions
occupy places and converts within the precincts
OF the church, to a greater or less extent These
monks guard the Holy Places by day and night
The Cat .olics are represented by he Francis
can monks, French, Italian and Spanish
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre can only
De entered by single door. The door is guar
ded by Turkish soldiers. who allow no one to
enter without first taxing him fer the privilege
These soldiers have divan in the vestibule of
the church. The admission fee received of pill
srims, amounts annually to about twenty thou
sand francs. This revenue is allowed to six
Mussulman families, who are established a: Je-
rusalem, and who probably relinquish a part Of
the income to the Turkish Pasha
The edihce comprises three churches; that Of
the Holy Sepulchre, properly SO called, the most
vast, the most celebrated and which encloses
the tomb of Christ; that of Calvary, built upon
the rock whic sustained the Cross and that of
the Invention of the Cross, raised in the place
where ST. Helena is said to have recovered the
instrument of redemption. The Church of the
Holy Sepulchre has experienced numerous vicis-
situdes Foundedb by Constantine; it was devas-
tated and ruined by the invasion of Chosroes
King of Persia, under the reign Of Heraclius:
raised again by the mnnifcence of the emperors
OF Byzantium and the donations of the Popes;
sacked by the conquering Arabs, Kurds, Name
Iukes, and Ottomans; and well nigh DESTROYED
from top to bottom during the seige of Damietta
by the Crusaders The Saracens enraped at
abe misfortunes in which the western expedi
tions had involved them. had resolved not to
leave the slightest vestige of the Church of the
holy Sepulehie remaining. The yray ers and the
money OF the Christians of Palestine appeased
their anger, however and preven ed the intend !
ed profanation. After ali these vicissitudes.
the church still presents the character of the
primitive style employed in its construction |
The massive pillars. the majestic arches, of By |
5antlne architecture, are still preserved.
In order TO appreciate the nature of sc rights |
claimed by the different Christian communions |
70 the different sanctuaries united in the Church
Of the Holy Sepulchre, il is necessary to recur
destroyed part Of the cupola Whether that fire
liohtad hv fhe m alics IF the Graal>e