Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-04-02
CELEBRATION IN
GREEK COUNTRIES
Intense Fervor and Devotion
Shown in Easter Ceremo.
nies-PIaces of Pill
grimage Numerous.

IN all the Greek orthodox countries
l Russia, Roumania, Greece, Bulgaria,
Servia, Montenegro and large part
of Observation-Disclosures is cele.
brated with great fervor and devotion.
The Easter kiss is well-known Incl
dent of these celebrations. A curious
story is told of Car Nicholas II and
the Easter kiss. On leaving his apart
ments one Easter morning he kissed
the guard outside with the usual salu-
tation, Christ is risen," to which the
response is, "He is truly risen." But
the man answered, coolly, "He is not
risen." The emperor was aghast, and
shouted, furiously, 'He is risen!" But
the man, with the utmost composure,
repeated his denial. He was Jew!
Only the emperor's sense of humor
saved him.
Russia, as the premier Greek Ortho.
dox nation, is very much in evidence
in the Holy Land, and of late years has
asserted her supremacy in the Chris.
tendon of the Orient in many ways
not only by generous contributions in
magnificent buildings and financially,
but also politically in strengthening
the position of the Greek church. Es-
pecially at Easter it is interesting to
observe the contrasts which take on
certain political hue between Latins,
Greeks, Professionals and Gregorians
(Armenians).
Protestant religious activity in Je-
rusalem, which at one time was large
ly English, has OF late years been
much strengthened by the influx of
German colonists, especially Suabians.
and great interest is manifested in
Palestine by Emperor William, who
visited the Holy Land and Syria some
sixteen years ago, and initiated politi-
cal as we'll as considerable building &C.
tivity. The Lutheran Easter celebra-
ton has become conspicuous feature
of holy week in Jerusalem, but Eng
lish and American endeavor has also
increased to remarkable extent.
Away from the ecclesiastical cere
monial the pilgrim in Easter time
seeks the traditional places where our
Lord spent his last days and nights.
OF these Gethsemane is the principal
goal, and here the difference in creed
among the many visitors is obliterated
by all earnest and quiet devotion
which is Unexpectedly free from the
emotional.
Another figure has a prominent
place in Easter celebrations in Jeru.
salem; that of Moses, whose liberia
ton of the Jewish people, from the
yoke of Egypt is commemorated in the
ancient Hebrew paschal feast But it
is not the Passover celebrated by the
various Jewish colonies of Palestine
the older spanish-speakipg. the Turk
speaking people from Bokhara and
other central .<Asiatic regions, the
Arabic.speaking Jews from Yemen, and
the Polish, Russian and German Jews
Of Yiddish tongue. It is not the Jew
fsh Passover that is the most remark
able celebration In honor Of the great
leader and the Exodus. a.. .s. ....
There is very little known Moham-
medan celebration which. though no
longer SO general AZ formerly. is still,
most interesting one. TO the Mo-
Mammalian. It, must be remembered,
Jerusalem is q holy city, like Mecca
md Medina, and there 10 q saying
lmong Arabs, Syria IL the blessed
country. Palestine the holy land. and
jerusalem, the holy city. is the holy
\ HOLES. ''E s.S III
Il The tradition Is that Ommi Selma.
ne 81 the prophet, heard these words
Ys day from Moha hmed Ee who
1iii - r -