The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-03-25
THE HOLY LAND OF
THE GREEK CHURCH.

1t is singular that the very centre o
the Eastern Church should be located
in Turkey. This curious fact is likely
to have direct bearings on the future
history of'Europc, little expected by
people in general. Were the Sultan
in some moment of reckless arrogance
or ungovernable fanaticism. to lay Viz
lent hands on Atnos, the whole of the
Russian Empire would be excited be
yond control. The monastic establish
ments scattered through the wild and
lovely range OF marble hills known col
lectively as Mount Athos, form the
most singular system of fconventual life
now existing in Europe. .Jutting out
from the south of Macedonia is a
jagged peninsula, very familiar and
famous in ancient classic days under
the name Of Chalcidicc Three extra
ordinary and very elongated promon-
tories run out to sea to form the face
of this peninsula which looks across
the Egean. The whole tract is
bounded on the east by the Gulf of
Salonica, on the west by that of Con-
tessa. Between these arms of the sea
stretch out, in parallel lines for about
the same length Of forty miles, these
three lofty and most lovely promon-
tories, known in acient times as Acte,
Sithonia and Pallene, but now respec-
lively denominated Athos, Longos and
Cassandra. OF these the easternmost
is Athos. The Athonite peninsula
was long ago rendered famous by
AerNes, for across it the great Persian
king cut his canal, very near the bases
OF the three promcntories. The con-
formation of Athos may be roughly
judged from the fact that it is at it's
base Il mile and 4 half across, while it's
average breadth is about four miles.
and its length is forty. Athos is de-
licious mountain paradise. The old
monks in all ages and all lands dis
played a perfect genius for the selection
of delightful locations, and as such
scenic associations are apt to
be combined with the necessary cond-
tiOns of seclusion in remote and secure
businesses, they were enabled to con-
suit both pleasure and safety in their
choice. Who that has cnjovcd a visit
to Madonna iii Campiglio in Tyrol,
can have failed to feel deeply impressed
with the magnificence, and the COM
parativc inaccessibility, of that old her.
mitage in the Italian Alps! The Grim
sci Hospice is another grand specimen.
The extreme point of Athos is Il
mountain nearly 1000 feet in height.
This wonderful hill of white marble
falls precipitously into the sea. Down
from its northern sides runs the chain
of hills, covered with luxurious vegeta-
ton, amongst whose slopes the monks
dwell in their many retreats, dotted for
miles about the peninsula The lovely
forests are maintained in a condition of
perennial vcrdure when all lands
around are withering under the blazing
sun of the southern summer The wa
t'FS with perpetual night mists endow
Athos with Il heritage ofprecious mois-
ture. Athos is the most perfect speci-
men remaining on earth of genuine
religious republic. For more than
thousand years this wonderful commu-
nifty has existed, its origin lost in an
tique legendary records. The Emperor
Constantine himself secures the credit,
according to some of these, of having
founded the first of these hermitages.
How very venerable the whole system
is may be inferred from the certain fact,
that one of these houses was restored
300 years ago! Those who chose the
site understood their business
Is we'll as Constantine did his in Sc
Letting the Golden Horn for the loca.
lion of his metropolis; or as Peter the
Great comprchended the conditions
favorable to his scheme for Il new capi- |
tai, when he built on Vasili Island, in
the bosom of the Neva, the hut which
IS still the sacred spot to which we re-
pair when we want to stand in the very
heart of st. Petersburg. All the ter
rible vicissitudcs and ruinous crises |
which have destroyed successive insti-
,utions in southeastern Europe have
been survived by the monks of Athos
1t is simply marvellous that the devas.
alton which rolled over the whole of
5he rest of the Byzantine Empire left
;his precious spot unscathed. Can it
De wondered ut that the millions of the
Eastern Church regard this immunity |
Is nothing less than miraculous. and
hat this secluded collection of vener-
.ble sanctuaries is regarded rs being
Utmost as hallowel rs j Jerusalem ITSELF
The beauty of AthoS is such that it is
| sacred tairyiand-a mountain and
garden nesting in the enchanting
Southern sea.
The Mother-"W WAS here to-
night, dear"
The Daughters Mr.. IIuggi,.S man.
ma
did You turn thH gas out when he
EFT"
NO. mamma. turned it ont when
le came