New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-04-08
Sal FM

.ure rom the Greek Islands ana speak
modern Greek. Their chapel in the
Church Of the Holy Sepulcher is the
most richly ornamented of all. It is
filled with gold and silver ornaments
of great splendor and with gilded pic
lures. Many lamps are Kept alight
continually and shed a most dazzling
brilliancy throughout the chapel, max
ing the images and the gilded altar
cloth, the censor and the golden can
idlesticks sparkle and glisten till the
whole Enclosure seems to be ablaze
with burning gold. During their serv-
Ices incense is profusely waved before
the altar, and the bishops and priests
within the chancel, attired in glittering
garments. lead the service in modern
Greek in peculiar information. The
worshipers stand on the marble nave,
for no seats are provided. No instru-
ments are ever used in their services,
but the worshipers sing in chorus in
most harmonious manner. Z r.
The principal services of holy week
are held by the Greek and the Latin.
The first one of interest is that of the
washing of the feet" celebrated on
Maundy Thursday The Greek patri-
arch and other dignitaries Of the Rus
sian church, attired in their most gor-
geous robes, make grand display Of
initiating the Lords example Of humil-
ity. This service is held in large,
NJ hot no ~,
becomes crowded to its utmost capac-
ity by Russian pilgrims and visitors
from all climes. With great pomp and
ostentation, the Greek patriarch washes
the feet of twelve priests especially
chosen for that purpose.
/ The next ceremony Of interest is per-
formed by. the Latins. On Good Fri
day night they hold a service in the.
Church Of the Holy Sepulcher, when
they enact the details of the cruci-
fixion. AS the service begins at late
hour, the pilgrims bring their mat
tresses and sleep within the church
, until they are awakened by the en-
trance Of a procession Of priests, chant
ing as they come from the adjoining
convent. The bishop and the prior,
with his gold inter and black velvet
cloak, trimmed with gold, and other
priests, all gorgeously attired, form this
impressive procession. A large. wooden
cross, with life size figure affixed to
1t, is carried aloft surrounded by: many
banner bearers. All the lights of the
| church are eXtngnished, and in total
darkness the worshipers listen, to a
sermon which monk delivers in
Italian. At it's close the candles are
relighted, and the procession moves
slowly toward Calvary.
At various intervals during this serv-
ice monks deliver sermons in differ
ent languages. AS soon as the image
! is lifted off the cross and placed on the
stone of JUNCTION, where it is wrapped
in linen, the pilgrims PROSTATE them
selves before it in oriental devotion.
They rub their heads on the pavement
and adoringly kiss the figure and even
whispering Paternosters and shedding
tears of gratitude and Of penitence.
After the conclusion of an Arabic SER
mon the body is borne away to the
sepulcher, where it lies till the cere-
mony of resurrection is performed on
Easter morn.
The most interesting of all the cere-
| monies Of the week is that of the "holy
fire. celebrated by the Greek church
There is curious foundation to this
| strange festival In olden days, we
are told, it was customary among the
Latins to extinguish all lights In the
church on the evening of the crucifix-
! ion, and on the%eve Of the resurrection
a bishop, leading solemn procession,
replaced new fire in all the lamps An
old tradition says that on one occasion
| the bishop found the lamps already
miraculonsly lighted before the process
sion entered the church. Ever since
| then this peculiar ceremony has been
held yearly. when the holy fire is sup
| posed to descend from heaven. The
festival was first instituted by the Lat
in church. but in time it ceased to cele-
| brate it. 81 s
Our Easter Sunday is kept as Palm
Sunday i,y the Greek church, as, ac-
cording to their calendar. all feast days
| are eight days later than by the Gre
| gorian calendar AS we entered the
| Holy Sepulcher on Easter day the first
ming that attracted our attention was
/ the fact that it had been turned. as the
fa4~r,vxIo xr,oo ne did into n 6hOUSe OF