The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-04
mIRAcLI or mr. GRnEK FIRE.
4 Ceremonial in Jerusalem That is Specs
taeular and Bias phemous.


Mr.. Richard Watson Gilden contrib
utes TO the April century an article en-
titled "The Miracle Of the Greek Fire.
describing q ceremonial in the Church
of the Holy Sepulchcr at Jerusalem on
the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The
attention that is now directed towards
the Greek church by events In the East
gives this special timehness. MT. OH
der says.
Now the time Of the miracle approaches.
A flame from heaven is 10 be communicate
cd to the oXpcctant world. AS prellm-
nary 10 TINS sacred manifestation there
is new, wild Outburst Of cries ana
screams We are tOlC that 10 rs the Jciu-
salem WOrshippcrs. who pound VIII their
fists their fcilOw-C Christians Of Jana, and
drag and jerk them away one by one from
the window whore the celcs lial lfe Is 10
The noise swcus like q tempest. a
burst of sOund-the changing Of bells and
stricken bars OF metal. a fash al the
Greek window. The ure has come. one
wild rush. one nigh-pitchod. multitudinOus
scream. sill the excited changing, and out
springs the light over the frantic human
mass, lcapng from hand 10 hand, as li
each flame We're lightning and music.
Around and up and over and through, I'LL
lame n added 10 flame. spreading from
candle to candle. and floor TO gallery.
Now priest appears on the ROOF OF inc
Sepulchcr itself and the flame runs round
the top Ike crown or hre. Hlsher IL
springs drawn by rope up 70 the peo-
Dle at the base of the dome. IT illumi-
mates the most distant and dungeOn-like
vaults the Chapcls above and below, eV-
cry vantage ground where the specta-
TORS have stood or crOuCheu on the floor.
or in temporary Judgments In mid-air.
IN and ON sounds the clangor and the
shouting. men. women, and children are
mad. they pass their hands over the
name-is II not from heaven How can DO
do harm?-and then draw their hands
over their faces. taking the celestial touch
IN ecstatlc alteration. over PAIN maze
clear for the runners from the window
already the fire is on It's way TO the ends
Of he earth.
The Armenian patriarch declared 10 us
LATER and without htsitancy. that the
Greek patriarch simply had lamp ON
the tomb proper which DE blessed. This
kindly old Armenian said to as that IL
was not miraculous. IL was rumored that
- prominent visitor was told by the Greek
patriarch that DE told the people that ll
was only "a symbol and not miracle. /
asked The visitor whether this was true.
and was answered. 40 How can he
pieces" Intelligent Greeks assure you
thut 10 Is symbol. that holy hre lS
tie same thing as holy water. Ilt Lac
tins Will have nothing TO DO with this one
OF the most venerable ceremonies and tle
most appalling scandal of the Christian
world
Al the height Of The frenzy. as the flame
leaned through the rotunQd and lighted
the ,ncirciing clapcis. making more rich
and gltterlnC the affairs. the gorgeous
VDstmouts. The whole ecclesastlcal para
phernalia the arms and uniforms of the
trOpus and the mamy-cOlOred costumes OF
The mad and motley crowd. the thought
leshcd upon me. Was there ever any
thing in AN christcnQom so beautiful and
SO bldsphemoust