Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-12-21
CHRISTMAS
Grand SOlemnity With Which
the Day Is Observed I'm
Bethlehem.
Scenes Presented at the Birth
place of the Infant
Saviour.
Masses Succeed One Another
Continually Through
the Day.
RECEPTION OF The PATRIARCHS

II is to the scene presented by the
grotto at the birthplace OF the
Infant Saviour that ones thoughts
naturally turn during the Christmas
season, particularly as so many rep
reservations have been provided for
the devotion of the people. There
are three solemnities kept at Beth
iehem to celebrate Christmas. The
first is that of the Latins (Catholics)
on December rs; thirteen days later
comes that of the Greek schismatics,
and on the Sunday when the Cath
olics keep the feast of the Holy
Name the ArmeniaDs have their
feast of Christmas. The difference
of dates in the various rites is due to
the rejection of the Gregorian
reformation Of the calendar by the
Greeks and to the keeping OF
Epiphany rather than Christmas day
by the Armenians.
To the Greeks and the Latins the
chief ceremony is the reception OF
their respective Patriarchs and the
functions in which he subsequently
takes part. This reception is carried
out in the Basilica with exactly the
same ritual; the same number OF
mounted men form the escort of the
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem as the
schismatic Patriarch; each descends
from his carriage at the same spot,
enters and leaves by the same door.
The Greeks are most careful that no
change or novelty should be intro
duced, and they are prepared to re-
sist any attempt at so doing. On the
other hand, the Franciscan fathers
watch in the Basilica all night during
the Greek Christmas, for the schis-
matics are ever ready to claim new
rights over the holy places. For this
reason the various Consuls are al
ways in attendance at the ceremonies
of both rites. so as to be ready to
decide any difference of opinion that
may arise, while detachment OF
troops from Jerusalem are near by,
prepared for any emergency. The
merest excuse serves for the claiming
of rights. If a monk of one right
were allowed to sweep a certain
piece of ground belonging to the
other rite that would be enough Tor
his sect or party to claim that por-
ton. In this connection it should
be mentioned that for this very oc-
casion, and on the same day, the
adherents of the two rites are obliged
to clean that part of the Basilical
which belongs to them, and 1t is for
that day also that troops come from
Jerusalem.
The Latin or Catholic observance
of Christmas remains the great event
at Bethlehem and is held in the high
est estimation by the people. This
act of religion never loses it's fas-
cination. The great square before
the Basilica is packed with people at
an early hour. There is not even
standing room on the terraces or on
the minarets, where as early as 8
O'Clock in the morning may be seen
scores of photographers in readiness
for the picturesque scene. About
1880 the church bells are set ring
ing and the first signal Of the arrival
of the cavalcade is given. All the
buildings on the route Immediately
put up their national flags and the
feast Of Christmas has begun. There
is a stir among the crowd as the
horsemen force a passage through,
while the trumpets announce that
entrance must be given the cortege
which is now seen at the farther end
of the square and attracts eyeryone's
attention. Meanwhile the clergy
come forward in procession to meet
the prelate. When the cross-bearer,
mounted ON a fine steed, comes in
sight the band strikes up, the SOL
diers present arms and the first car
riage, drawn by pair OF superb
horses, comes to a stand and a rich
carpet is extended for the remainder
OF the way. The Patriarch alights
and is received by the Nudia or
Mayor, by the local authorities and
fathers. The guards keep the people
in check by a stout rope, while the
Patriarch, accompanied by the clergy
and the officials. proceeds TO the
Basilica, blessing the crowds as he
goes along The view now exhibited
by the square is striking and
unique. The horsemen are together
on the right, erect and alert, with
their rifles In front. The other car
riages are kept at the entrance of
the square, and the crowd, with its
variations of nationality and color,
wave about like a field OF corn
bowing before the wind.
At the door of the Basilica the
Patriarch stops and makes a brief
alteration; then he descends to the
grotto, and the whole procession fol-
lows him into the Church OF st.
Catherine. Seated on his throne he
Is vested in the Pontifical robes. The
Latina who havo f0ll0wod In the DrO-
cession have now filled the Basilica
and are joining In the singing OF the
Magniflcat. AS soon as the first
vespers have commenced large num-
bers go to the church. where the
men on one side, the women on the
other. they follow the liturgy with