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

that sucb usurpations had taken place. and that
| the Turkish authorities has rendered Justice "
| the Latins.
in the Chnrch of the Sepulchre, the Sepuiehre
aud Altar opposite the tomb; the Stone OF onc-
tiou on hich the body OF Christ was washed
before being enshrouded the place OF the Ap-
pearance of the Angel TO the Holy women Tue
place of the Appearance OF Jesus TO Mary Mag
daene; the Chapel OF the Cruclhxlon the Piaoe
where the Virgin and St. John stood at the time
of the Crucih xion; and the Seven Arches OF the
Virgin, contiguous to the Chapel OF tue Appear
ance Aud besides these, they, IN commoh wlth
the Greeks, possessed the Chapel Of the lnven-
ton of the Holy Cross. The Greeks possessed
the Prison where Christ was cohnued during the
preparation for the Crucifi xion; the place where
the Redeemer was elevated upon the Cross; the
Chapel of Adam: the Choir and the Sanctuary
OF the Church and III common Win the Latlns,
the Chapel of the inversion of the Cross Inc
ArIneIieus possessed the Chapel of ST. Helena; !;
the place where the friends OF Jesus stood du-
ring the Passion and the upper chapel III the
Southern gallery of the grand cupoia, The Sy-
rians possessed the Sepulchre OF Joseph OF Afl-
mathea, and the chapel of the western vault
The Copts had the privilege OF a chapei Ia lhe
rear of the Holy Sepulchre. The Apyssihians
possessed the place where the Centurion was
seized with repentance after the Passion; TIE
Chapel of the lmpropere, where Christ was
crowned with thorus; and the place where the
women stood who watched at the Saviour TOMB
The privilege of possession is shown by the
right OF placing carpets and keeping the lamps
III repair in the sanctuary possessed. This Is
the sign of religious ownership in the East. In
certain places, notwithstanding the exclusive
right of such such u sect, other sects have
right to light the lamps. Thus, in former times,
upon the Holy Sepulchre, forty four lamps might
be burnt-thirty by the Latins, and fourteen by
other nations Upon the stone OF Unction there
were eight lamps belonging to different commu-
mons. 1t is well understood, besides, that the
pilgrims Of al communions have access to all
the sauctuaries.
The fire OF 1903, as has been stated, was the
starting point of the encroachments of the
Greeks, who at that time usurped the Holy Sc
pulchre, the great Cupoa, the Stone Of Unction
and the Seven Arches of the Virgin. As to the
Holy Sepuchre, the Greeks do not oppose the
celebration of the holy mysteries there by the
faithful, but they deserve to themselves the
maintenance oft, and the lighting of the lamps,
which was formerly the prerogatiTe of the La
tins. The enjoyment of the great Cupola is left
to all the different communions; but the Greeks
assume the sole right of possession. The claims
OF the franciscan monks extend, then, to the
possession of the Monument of the Holy Sepul-
chre, the Cupola which covers it, the Stone of
Unction, the seven Arches of the Virgin, and
the joint possession of the Chapel of Calvary.
These are the claims which have been suppor-
ted by the French Government and by Austria,
in respect to which, on the part of the Turkish
Divan, contradictory decisions have been made.
1t remains for us to indicate the relative claims
to the tomb of the Virgin at Gethsemane, and
to the Church of Bethlehem. The first, from
time immemorial, has belonged to the Latins,
though other sects have had affairs there. The
Greeks have invaded these Sanctuaries, and have
interdicted the Catholics from celebrating the
holy mysteries in them. The Latins have al
ways protested against this usurpation.