The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-22
CbiS Is a Real Miracle.
M A Holy jerusalem
0g} Faithful Believers Claim sFronH Heaven

The strange ceremony known as the
Descent of the Holy Fire" is conducted
by the priests of the Greek church alone
in these days, although In former times
other churches confessed belief in the
supposed miracle. The "Greek Easter
at Jerusalem always draws its tens Of
thousands of ardent worshipers, says the
Cincinnati Enquirer. Good Friday and
Easter Sundays are. of course, the chief
days for the pilgrims in the Holy City,
and are spent In attendance on the i'm
pressive ceremonies of the Greek church
at the Holy Sepulcher.
The church is crowded with pilgrims
of almost every nationality on this occa-
sion, and many disgraceful scenes are
enacted; both In the streets and In the
sanctuary itself. The church is guarded
by Turkish soldiers (Mohammedans, Of
course), and they are often put to their
mettle to queH the disturbances which
are continually arising through the meet
llgious views who contend with fanati-
cal violence for the temporary possession
of some holy shrine or chapel.
SLEEP IN THE CHURCH.
The turbulent scene opens with the
dawn OF Good Friday, a great crowd
spending the night in the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher In order to secure ad-
vanta geous places for a sight Of the cere-
mony Cor miracle" as 1t Is called Of
the Holy Fire. The turmoil is sometimes
tremendous, each fanatic striving to
maintain whatever coign of vantage he
10 IY,5Si fO n fofp
he has failed in this, to oust some more
fortunate competitor.
Some to make their positions more Sc
cure, tie themselves by cords to the sepul-
cher itself. The unlucky ones, between
struggles with their neighbors, run along
the sepulcher, bowling like demons, amid
the derisive cries Of the Turkish Zap
tiehs, to the great scandal of the truly
devout. The building is Jointly occupied
by monks and priests of the Latin and
Greek churches, though the latter seem
to hold the balance of power.
ANCIENT OBSERVANCE.
In early days, as far back as the occU-
pancy of the Holy City by the crusaders,
the Latins were accustomed to represent
the entry of Christ from Bethphage, rid
ing on an ass; but later this spectacle
was enacted in the church only, palms
and branches of olives being scattered
among the people Today the Latins
bring huge bundles Of palms from GAIA,
and on Palm Sunday these are blessed
and distributed to the faithful.
On Holy Thursday the Latins celebrate
high mass, and walk in procession around
the chapel Of the holy sepulchre; follow
ing which comes the ceremony Of 'the
washing of the feet" This rite is OBJ
served by the Greek sectaries also, though
OFy
the same day.
Good Friday was formally celebrated by
the Latins-the Franciscan monks-by a
mystery play, the representation being
brought to a close with the mailing of a
figure to a cross. The Greeks have 8
similar play which is still enacted.
DESCENT OF HOLY FIRE.
The great feature Of Eastertide, how
ever, among the adherentS of the Greek
church, is the alleged miracle of the holy
fire. Up to the beginning of the sixteenth
century the Latins took part in this cere-
mony, but since that time 1t has been
conducted by the priests of the Greek
church alone.
The Greek sectaries maintain that the
miracle dates back to apostolic days
1t was referred to by Barnard. the monk
as early as the ninth century.
rians, Copts and Abyssinians contend
with the Greeks and Latins in efforts to
be among the first to light their candles
at the sacred fame. which, 1t is believed