Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-22
THE NATIVITY PLACE.
When Christ Was Born-The Christmas Eve
Processlon-" Peace, Peace The
Refrain of Centuries


Refrain of Centuries
bethlehem of Judaa, the birth place OF
our Saviour, is second only in sacred iu-
terest to Jerusalem, and the sight OF tie
woEdrous event which has given \ name
to our era. neither history nor tradition
losing sight Of so memorable village. Al
though under Turkish dominion. it is Who'll y
\ Christian town of about six thousand in
habitants, these Christians belonging
chiefly to the Roman Catholic, Greek or
Armenian churches.
The Greek or Eastern church has ad
hered 70 the old calendar, and never
adopted the new style brought in by the
reformation of the calendar by Pope
Gregory XIII. The 25th of December,
according to an Old account, falls ON the
9th of January. That day is still known
as Old Christmas or Twelfth night.
The most numerous of all the Christian
| sects in Palestine and Syria are members
of the Greek church. They are spoken Of
generally az the Greeks but they aye so
called merely because they belong to the
Greek church. They are Arabs of the
| country, and Arabic is the vernacular Ian
guage. However, the whole church SER
| vice is said in Greek when the high clergy
| of1iciate.
1t is customary for great numbers Of tic
| residents of Jesusalem, as well as visitors.
to spend Christmas at Bethlehem, as the
| churches celebrate it there witt, great
pomp and ceremony. Most go there as
worshippers, while many others go simply
| as spectators Of the ceremonies.
Tho Greek patriarch Of Jerusalem,
| whose see extends over the whole OF
Palestine, both east and west of the Jor-
dan, proceeds yearly to oi,iciate ct the re-
| ligiOus services Christmas-eve in the
Church Of the Nativity at Bet'.lahem.
The procession leaves the Pttri;::c:iii
palatial city residence, ut about lo"h on
tho eve, ii great state. First il; order
ride Nakarjeye and Shadir,na. the old
style of Oriental cavalry, in the pictur-
esque Bedouin. costume, the Nakarjeye,
or drummers, beating with leather thongs
a weird and yet martial kind of tattoo
upon small drums fastened on either side
of their saddle bows. Next to this de-
tachment ride company Of fierce Bashi-
BaZouks armed, like the preceding cav
airy, to the teeth. The Cavasscs, ecclesi-
astical and consular guards. follow,
gorgeous in suits Of cloth heavy with gold
embroidery, armed with pistols AMI
cimeter, bearing in the right hand 4 long
silver mace, the bottom of which rests
on the old fashioned stirrup. Behind
these outriders are the patriarch and the
Russian Archimandrite, in the flowing
black robes OF tho Greek clergy. Next
ride the Russian and Greek cOnsuls, with
their official staff, all in full dress uniform.
Behind these, in order of rank, como the
bishops, priests, monks and choristers y;
all the numerous mOnasteries and
1 oE,,rol,,c fko o1orioo1 c&p.1or.x nd
officers in the civil service. Private citi.
from al! parts OF the world bring up the
rear.
The procession, in numbers often count.
ins several thousands, winds its way
through tho streets Of the city, leavin: by
the Jaif;. Gate. On the plain Of Rephain
the order Of march breaks, and the Sha,l-
irma and Bashi- Bazouks, cavalry, Cavass
es, and every one else who feels so inclined
perform feats of horsemanship.
At Hacheps tomb the patriarch il III.
by hundreds of the Bethlehem and Belt
Jala men on foot, iirin. their guns shout
ing, clapping their hands, aud singing as
they precede them to Bethlehem. AS the
cavalry and citizens join in this demon
stration, tho whole has more the appear
ance of = conquering army than Of 4
devOut and peaceful company III worship
pers but they come to celebrate the
anniversary Of the birth Of the greatest
COnqueror ths world ever possessed, an(
therefore think it not unmcet to render /:
herO'S Eonors. Up through the hiiiS
streets of Bethlehem this great army
wends its way, tho procession constantly
growing larger. AS they pass the houses
they are greeted will, songs of wclcon.
from the windows by the women ant
children. They arrive ut the great sIuar.
which fronts the great fortress. like ediiic,
that holds three extensive monastcries
the great complex Church Of the Nativity
TIE cavalry form into line on either side
through which tho patriarch rides. A
procession Of priests anu monks from the
monastery, wearing magnificent robes,
preceded by large number of chanting
chorsters, meet him 1T tho gate, sprink
ling holy water and rose water all owe.
the place. Two officials from tho Russian
and Greek consulates hold the stirrup OF
either side while the patriarch dismounts
Ia token of the submission of the tenn
poral to the powers spiritual. The pat.
riarch, his suit, the consuls and their staff,
ETC., all retire to the reception rooms,
where they are served with refreshments,
and later, 4 repast. The mOnasteries OF
this vast edifco belong severally to
the Greek, Latin and Armenian sects,
and the guardianship Of the church is dis
tributed among these three committees,
of which the various sections under their
several care are minutely measured off.
The special chapel Of tho Nativity is,
however, common property, and rany 4
time the question of precedence in religi-
Gus professions has caused the church to tie
deluged with Christian blood, monks and
priests fighting with bell, book, Candles
or crozier-whichever happened to he
most handy or effective, A strong guard
Of Turkish soldiers is therefore stationed
in this monastic fortress to keep the peaco
between tho rival sccts on tn. great
holy days. At midnight the service be-
gins, tho patriarch, the bishop, the priests
and chOristers in their sacertlOtal
robes and crowns, which are one blaze of
cloth Of gold and jewels. Candles made
of pure wax, Of four feet in length and
prOpOrtionate thickness, are carried by
the clergy, the officials and every citizen
and pilgrim that that is devOut enough to
purchase so large taper. The thousands
of tapers borne by the crowds, the gor-
geous robes of the priests, the brilliant
uniforms of the civil service, the army
officers aud soldiers, the countless variety
of costumes worn by individuals from
nearly all the different countries, towns
and villages Oh earth, the vast and beauti-
full cathedral, with it's thousands Of chan
delicrs, lamps Of gold, silver, bronze,
brass and stained glass, all ablazs with
light, the richly decked affairs, the price.
less gems of art accumulated throughout