The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-18
EASTER IN JERUSALEM
The Celebration Of the Resurrection of
Christ In the Holy City.
THE SCENES At THE TOMB or CHRIST
MohammedlRn Soldiers Are Necessary
to Prevent the Different Chris
clan Scots from Doing Violence 20
Each Other-Wild Struggles OF I'm.
natlcs to Secure Holy Fjre.

Nhe "Greek Easter at Jerusalem al
ways draws its tens Of thousands Of ar
dent worsh!ppers. and this year an ex-
ceptionally large influx Of visitors is
looked for, Notwithstanding the disturb
ed condition Of affairs in the Levant
ana the threatenings Of pestilence. says
Rn exchange. Good Friday and Easter
sunday ere, Of course, the chief days for
tho pilgrims in the Holy City, and are
spent in attendance on the impressive
ceremonies Of the Greek church at the
holy sepulchre.
AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.
The church is crowded with pilgrims
or almost every nationality on this oc-
casion, and many dlsgraceful scenes are
enacted, both inthe streets and in the
sanctuary itself. The church Is guarded
by Turkish soldiers (Mohamncdans, Of
course), and they are often put to their
Hettle to quell the disturbances which
are arising through the meeting OF
bands OF devotees Of dissimi!ar religious
Views, who contend with fanatical VIC
1ence for the temporary possession Of
some holy shrine or chapel. The turbu-
lent scene opens with the dawn of Good
Friday, u great crowd spending the
night In the church OF the Holy Sepul-
chre IN order to secure advantageous
places for sight Of the ceremony Cor
miracle as It Is called), Of the holy
fire. The turmoil is sometimes tremen-
dous, each fanatic striving to maintain
WhateVer coign Of vantage he has been
lucky enough to obtain; or, If he has
Jailed in this, to GUST some more fortu-
nate competitor. Some, to make their
positions more secure, tie themselves
oy cords to the sepulchre itself. The
unlucky ones, between struggles with
their neighbors, run around the sepul-
cnTe hoWling like demons, amid the de-
risiVe cries Of Turkish Zaptiehs, 10 the
great scandal Of the truly devout The
building is Jointly occupied by monks
and priests, though the latter seem to
hold the balance of power.
In early days. as far back as the oc-
cupancy Of the Holy City by the Crusa-
GERS, the Latins were accustomed 10
represent the entry OF Christ from Beth
page, riding on All ass; but later this
spectacle was enacted In the church
only, palms and branches OF olive be-
ing scattered among the people To-day
the Latins bring huge lunches Of palms
from GAIA. and on Palm Sunday these
are blessed and distributed to the faith
full. ~.
THE WASHING OF THE FEET"
On Holy Thursday the Latins cele-
pirate high mass and walk In procession
around the chapel Of the holy sepulchre.
t.,oiloWing which comes the ceremony of
the washing Of the feet This rite Is
observed by the Greek sectaries also,
thought their festival does not always
occur on the same day
GOOD Friday was formerly celebrated
by the Latins-thc franciscan monks.
py mystery play. the representation
nelng brought to close with the nail
ing or q figure to 4 cross. The Creeks
have similar play which is still enact.
ed.
The great feature OF Eastertlde. how
ever. among the adherents Of the Greek
church. Is the alleged miracle Of the
molly fire. Up to the beginning Of the
81 tsea century the Latins took part
IN TINS ceremony; but since that time ii
mas been conducted by the priests OF
the Greek church alone
Inc Greek sec:aries maintain that the
miracle of the holy fire dates back 10
apostolic days. 1t was referred to by
oernard the Monk as early as the ninth
century.
On the great day -Armenians, Nestor-
rams, Copts and Abysslnans contend
with the Greeks and La tins to be among
Inc nrSt to light their candles at the sa-
qreo hame, which it is believed des-
fends from heaven. hut which Khaliff
Hakim was told Is generated by means
Of resinous oil smeared on the wires
oy which the consecrated lamp is sus-
pehoed over the holy sepulchre, the oil
nelng set on fire from the roof Dy a
confederate priest. 1t is said that large
sums are paid the priests by the fana-
tios whom they permit to light their
olessed candles directly from the sacred
iiame. the possession Of such sancti-
he'd object being regarded as especially
efhcacious In everything relating to
worldly anairs, and as having inestima
pie virtues as light to guide its pos
SCISSOR through the darkness when death
calls him hence. -
A STRIKING CEREMONY.
This eliminating ceremony Of the des-
cent or the holy fire occurs on Easter
eve, though the excitement begins on the
preceding evening. At about 2 o'cIoclr
IN the afternoon Of SATURDAY.. grand
procession Of Greek priests and monks
moves around the holy sepulchre the
lamps Of the church being extinruish-
90, one by one, in sight Of the vast mi
pitating crowd. Finally the patria rch
enters the chapel OF the holy sepulchre
Ine priests intone prayers and the i'm.
nense throng sways to and fro with re-
ugious fervor. The supreme moment
arrives. The patriarch energies. bearing,
alort the cleaning flame, which is de-
Voutly believed to have descended mi.
raculously from heaven; priests come
forth with punches Of lighted tauers
and an indescrSbable tumult follows
each one striving to light his own can.
die at one OF those borne by the priests.
everywhere there is struggling and
surg1ng and shouting, until the scene
becomes @ verltHble pandemonium. In
the struggle fierce fights are common.
ana serious accidents sometimes occur.
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