The Washington herald., 1910-03-27


borne from the Vatican IN his lnagnif-
cent vestments. On his head is the
tiara. very high, round cap Of cloth-of-
gold. surmounted by triple crown
Above him Is borne canopy of six with
long fringe of gold, and beside him are
carried the fiabelli-great fans Of ostrich
feathers In which are set the eyelIke
parts Of peacock feathers, supposed 10
signify the eyes OF WatehfuIness OF the
church. The mass Is celebrated with the
greatest solemnity. and at its close the
Pope is carried from the great altar "a
the balcony over the central doorway
and here he pronounces the benedictiou.
The scene is one of great impressive
ness and spendor. and Easter iz one OF
the greatest days Of the year in Rome.
Easter week in Jerusalem IS a time
when one may see the city under strange
conditions. for all sorts of unusual eere-
monies take place during Holy Week.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is
the Mecca Of hundreds of devout wor-
shippers as well as of curious sightseers
On Holy Thursday the Latins walk in
procession around the chapel Of the sep
ulcher, and then comes the feet wash
Ing
The miracle Of the holy fire is a cele-
bration in which the Greeks alone mar
ticipate. The Greeks believe this mira
Gle to have taken place during the Apos-
toiic age All the Greeks carry tapers.
and there is mad and unseemly scram-
bic 10 be the first 10 light ones taper
in the holy fire, as the Greeks firmly be-
lieve it comes down from heaven. II IS
said that some Of the worshipers nav
large sums to the priest for the privilege
Of being first TO light their tapers at the
FIRE. The crowds begin to assemble at
the church on the evening Of Good Fri
day and they remain all night In the
church for the purpose Of holding the
good positions they have secured. In
fact, they remain there until Easter eve.
at which time a procession Of the priests
marches around the sepulcher, all lamps
having been put out and the crowd watch
Ing with hated breath for the appearance
of the holy fire The patriarch finally
enters the chapel Of the sepulcher amid
the prayers of the priests, and soon after
the holy Are. which the waiting people
firmly believe to have come from heaven.
CLEANS from the sepulcher. while the
priests come forth with lighted tapers.
and there is a mad rush on the part of
the people TO get their tapers lighted.
The scene is one of the utmost lack Of
decorum, and it is wonder that the old
and the feeble are not injured.
The Russians, who are fond Of amuse-
ment and pomp have a natural ten
dency TO render Easter a sort Of festival
preceded by great gloom. All through
Lent and Passion Week the greatest
gloom and solemnity prevail. The the
aters are closed, and dancing and ali
games are prohibited. The people spend
the time in going 10 church, and every
piousIy devout. No amusements OF any
kind are INDUCED in. and during the last
three days before Easter The people
abstain wholly from food Of any kind.
IN Moscow. on Easter eve, the people
gather in great crowds at the Kremlin.
which is palace, church, and fortress
combined. Few lights are seen, and
there is little noise, the cathedral alone
is ablaze with splendor No priests are
In attendance, but in the center Of the
church is desk upon which is an open
Bible. Aged Russian peasants, young
soldiers. dashing Cossacks, or old women
come 10 the desk and read from the
book. As midnight approaches the
crowd Increases. All classes and all
ages are representative rich mobiles
and their wives. well-to-do merchants
and land owners. They all stand-for
there are 10 seats in Russian churches
and quietly await the hour Of demonstra-
ton. Presently the golden doors are
thrown open from the holy OF holes,
and the archbishop appears on the high
est steps Of the altar. and with uplifted
hands blesses the assembled people
When the bell on the tower of Ivan the
Great strikes the hour of u. there is a
booming of cannons. and every wor-
shipper becomes torchbearer. They
form in lines at the door Of the church
Once more the archbishop appears upon
the high steps OF the altar and an
Christ is risenr' The great
crowd exchange congratulations. Easter
cakes are blessed In long rows, and the
festival is kept up ali night.
In Moravian settlements of Pennsyl-
vsnia may be witnessed a quaint and
imposing ceremony. which has varied
little from those Of ancient days On
Easter morning, at the first sign OF
dawn. a band Of trumpeters-their III
struments being in accord with the scrip
tuTal description Of the general arousing
on Resurrection Day-gather on the roof
Or in the tower Of the church and play
until all the wofshipeTs are awakened
Shortly afterward the service begins, the
time being so arranged that the culmina-
ton Of the exercises shall be at the
exact time of sunrise. A few moments
before the sun appears, the cOngTega-
ton, led by the pastor and the trum-
peters. file out of the sanctuary and
march to the cemetery. The throng clus-
ters at the farther end Of the grounds
and the services are resumed. Just as
the sun rises the concluding words are
spoken and they break into singing
Joyous anthem.
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