The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-03
Whore the Parents OF the Virgin
Lived.

Lived.
Lawrence Oliphant, in The Fortnlgbtly Review.
On the western slope OF the hill, and
about hundred Yards from the Castle OF
Seppharis, are the remains OF the church,
which, according to tradition, was built
upon the site OF the reputed dwelling oi
the parents Of the Virgin by ST. Helena,
and which dates, therefore, about $50 years
after Christ. Indeed, the exact locality is
pointed out where the Virgin is said to
have received the salutation OF the angel
The special interest which attaches to this
spot lies in the fact that, about two years
ago, il was purchased by the FranciScans,
with view 10 the restoration OF the Church
at that time the high arch OF the middle
aisle and the lower ones OF the side aisles
were alone visible. The site had been for
centuries the refuse-heap Of the village, and
the excavations preliminary to the work oi
restoration have brought TO light subter-
ranean chapel, and a number Of fragments
OF columns which have recently been IN
closed by wall. j counted altogether
twelve in the courtyard, OF which some
are PROSTATE and others Standing to q
height OF ten or twelve feet, while capitals
and pedestalS were strewn around. These
were of syenite and may possibly have
been transported from Egypt. The priests
told me that for want of funds the work OF
excavation was for the present suspended,
but that enough had been discovered to
prove the existence OF many more columns
below the surface in much better state OF
preservation; but these, together with the
entrance TO the subterranean part OF the
church, were concealed by the Debris,
which had never been thoroughly removed.
He pointed out to me the fact that the side
pillars, which supported the arches still
standing. were divided into five sections,
and said that they had been so built in or
der that they might incl0se the actual walls
of the original house which had been the
abode OF Joachim and Anna, and that the
ancient masonry had been discovered with
IN the pillars in the recent process OF re-
storaton. A small apse on the right has
been converted into modern chapel, and
q priest comes here from Nazareth every
SUNDAY TO perform mas. The entire con-
gregation consists OF the Christian Arab
and his wife, who are left in charge during
the week-for the whole population OF the
modern Sefuieh, with this exception, have
been notorious as fanatical MoslemS, and
have enjoyed bad reputation in the neigh
borhood rs arrant thieves; but my clerical
informant assured me that since they had
discovered that they were the fortunate
possessors Of a holy place." where Chris
fian money was likely 10 be spent freely,
their religious opinions had undergone a
serious modification, and that, were it not
Tor fear Of consequences, they would all
become Christians tomorrow. This, how
ever, may have been a sanguiue and preiu-
diced view OF their spiritual condition.
One thing, nevertheless, is certain, that
holy places" in Palestine may be turned
to very valuable political account by any
Catholic power which desires to extend its
influence in the country; and it is signi-
ficant fact that they are being multiplied in
number every year, and that the Christian
populations ut each Of them look to France
for that religious protection which the re-
public denies to clerical orders at home
while Latin menasteries, which are under
French protection. are active in identity
ing Biblical localities, and in attaching to
them such sacred traditions as may justify
their being invested with the necessary
character OF sanctity. 1t sometimes hap
pens that one Church captures holy place
from another, which rebounds not little
to the political triumph of the protecting
power. Thus, not long since. no fewer
than 120 Greek Christians at Kefr Kenna-
which is asserted, by those interested in
making il so, to be Cana OF Galilee, the
scene OF the miraculous conversion OF water
INTO wine-suddenly owing to circum'
stances which my clerical informant
refrained from particularzing, abandoned
the Greek church aud bcame Latins, OF
RomanistS.