The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-24

~ TIE OF indianapolis Journal.
AS Easter is approaching it will, 1 am
sure, be interesting to the readers of the
Journal to know how the Orientals, or,
rather, the Armenians, observe it. The
holy week, or, as they call it, the Anak
Shapat, is period of many religious cere-
monies with the Armenians IMPLYING the
passion of Christ. Peculiar rites character
lie their celebration of Palm Sunday. The
memory of the triumphal entry Of Jesus to
Jerusalem is observed in the church. After
the mass the bishop the priests, deacons of
the dirotzoes- notwithstanding a band
take palm, olive or willow tree branches
into their hands and march through the
church in a great procession. Meanwhile
the priests bless the people Of the four cor
ners Of the earth, and the band chants
"Hallelujahl HoSanna, Amen" The branch
es are taken to the church by those who
have been married within the year. AT the
close of the service the youth braid chains
from the fresh branches and fasten them
TO the ends OF sticks; holding these in their
hands they hasten from house to house,
singing the peculiar songs of the day and
collecting colored eggs, which is very pleas
ant for the little ones. In the evenings
the ceremony of THE opening of the gates
of heaven is held. This is to express the
belief that when Jesus triumphantly en-
tered Jerusalem He conquered the world to
God and opened the gates of Paradise to
the altar of the church. Which is Closed dur
ing the fifty days fasting preceding Eas-
ter. The priest comes forth and knocks on
a board, which is fastened behind the veil,
saying: Open to us, Lord. the door of
mercy" deacon answers from behind the
veil. saying: This door belongs to the
Lord Almighty, and the righteous shall
ter in The priest repeats the knocks, and
in a sorrowful voice says: Yea, we know
sinners by repenting from their sins
and being washed by faith in the blood of
Christ and. behold, come with my little
other knock the priest and the deacon from
behind the veil recite the twenty-fourth
Psalm alternately, and then some one in
the church. and thus the door is opened
On Monday the services typify the cleans
ing the temple Of Jesus. Tuesday is devoted
to the memory of the ten virgins" Ten
children are ranged before the altar and
given candlesticks into their hands; then
are offered on a plate ten envelopes, in five
in the other five the word wise" Each
girl, trusting her fate takes one of them,
the ten virgins in the twenty-fifth chapter
of ST. Matthew. The envelopes are exam
ined. The children who hold the slips with
candles and turned out of the church. which
practically illustrates the parable of the
sermon. Thursday is the celebration OF
feet" The latter ceremony, also, is per-
formed by a bishop or priest An attendant
carries around a brass vessel filled with
water. and the ecclesiastie, in imitation of
his Divine Master, girds himself with a
towel and washes the right foot Of every
ter also is used, which typifies the perfum-
cry. of Mary who anointed Jesus. 1t is
said that those who have been anointed
flies or mosquitoes, yet was bitten always
and very badly, too: During the ceremony
an appropriate hymn composed in the
twelfth century by the Catholics Verses
Schnorhali, the Graceful.
In the evening the lords betrayal is inn
pressively enacted. Thirteen candles are
placed upon the altar; which typfy the
one which is supposed to represent Judas
without light. The center one is larger and
brighter than the rest, representing Him.
| The priest reads from the thirteenth and
| twentieth chapters of John, and also from
| the Synoptists; a candle is extinguished at
| the end of each chapter read; finally the
center one is eXtinguiShed by old fell
+! low, supposed to be Judas, and thus the
| church is darkened. This indicates three
| hours of nightlike gloom during the
| cruciixion. The priest breaches a sermon
| suitable to the occasion and the congrega-
| ton that were watching and praying
affected by the impressive ritual, Interrupts
the discourse with lamentations and cries Of
agony and remorse. When the lights are
turned on again the church is draped in
mourning. The priests veStmentS are of
| black; so is the veil In front Of the altar
At midnight the little ones are sent home
| while the adults continue nearly all the
| night in the church. In the morning we
| hear voice, Boys to-day is Good Friday;
| rise and hasten TO church We hasten 10
| the church. and 10. there is profusely dec
| GRATED little tomb guarded by two brass
angels. This signifies Christ in the tomb
| and watched by the angels. The whole day
| is devoted to mourning, and there are
| many rites.
on Saturday, after a series Of appropriate
| services the priests and deacons lift the
1
| procession begins in the church; in some
| places in the streets too. The band carries
| the banner of the cross before the process
| sion and shouts "Allaluigah. Christas
| baritone i maralaty." The mass follows
after which comes the Lords supper for
| priests and repented. These you may, per-
| haps, call church members" The days
| service is over. and everywhere joy is
| reigning, for the fasting is ended and it is
| Passover.
| Sunday is the glorious resurrection of
| Jesus, and the women in the morning early
| haste to church 10 visit the tomb, like
| Mary Magdalen, as in the time OF old, but
not finding il there they go to the grave
| yard, where the whole town is gathered
| Each salutes the other "Christos harione /
| morality is risen from the dead
| and receives the answer "Orhuial a haru-
! tune Christasey"- blessed is the resurrec-
] graves of their loved ones. while others
/ give a piece of money To "a priest to per-
| form a ceremony upon the graves of the
| departed. expecting the dead will receive
| some benefit from il. Some take their
| lunch there, which is OF almost entirely
| this time; they then return home and spend
| the holiday in visiting ZACH other and mo-