Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-04-20

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charm of its cosmopolitanism, and even the
Mohammedans have their Easter pilgrimage to
the grave of Moses.
The throng of Easter pilgrims from the whole
Christian world is a very remarkable sight. To
the westerner it is a revelation of oriental Chris
tianity in all it's picturesque devotion. Greeks,
from all over the Levant; Armenians from Tur-
key, Persia and the Caucasus; HISTORIANS from
Mesopotamia and Persia; Syrians from Aleppo,
Damascus and Beyrout; Abyssinians from the
hermit land of northeast Africa; Copts from
Egypt, and men from the ancient churches Of
southern India, and, above all, Russians who now
adays form by far the largest contingent of pill
grims-all these races mingle with Latins from
western Europe, with Germans, English, Ameri-
cans, Scandinavians
In the midst of all, and presenting an indi-
viduality perhaps more distinct than all the 9TH
ers, you see the Mohammedan master of the land
the Arab in his solemn garb and majestic bear
ing, and the Turkish official and soldier naughty
in the exercise of his duty to keep the Christian
pilgrims in check and to preserve order.
Elaborate professions and ceremonials make
holy week in Jerusalem a gorgeous event, where
the intimate note Of the resurrection is not con-
%spicuous. Especially does it bring out the divi-
sion Of Christendom, so strikingly shown in the
way in which Latins, Greeks, Armenians and
Copts share the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Particularly at Easter the marvellous services Of
the Greek orthodox church convey the priority of
this church in the Holy Land. And of these cere-
monies, none, perhaps, Is more impressive than
that of the washing Of feet on the Thursday be-
fore Easter.
On that day a platform is erected in the court
of the church, which is occupied by the Greek
bishop of Jerusalem and IL high church digni-
taries. Court, stairs, inches and every corner is
crowded by the faithful to witness the enact
ment of the scene when Jesus washed the feet
of his disciples. The parts of Jesus, John, Peter
and Judas are each given to an ecclesiastic,
and are read with fine simplicity, though the
story is told with q certain freedom from gospel
text. 8
AT the end the patriarch washes the feet of
the II clerics, and, repeating Jesus words, Let
us go, for he that will betray me is Nigh" gives
the signal to arise, and they all withdraw to the
church. Then an olive branch, hanging over the
chancel of-the platform, is pulled up to the roof
Of the church amid shouts of joy.
Next day, Good Friday. all the lights in the
Holy Sepulcher church are extinguished. This is
symbolical of the agony and death Of our Lord
and of his descent to hell, when the light of the
world was taken away for a brief space. Then,
on Saturday, the lights are rekindled-by a super
natural agency, so the tradition goes. AS the
church dignitaries pray in the chapel Of the
sepulcher, draped in deep mourning, the stone
gathers a peculiar moisture which rises as a va
por and, suddenly bursting into a divine flame,
k.ndles the lights. 1t is the custom of the people
to light candles from one another, and the faith.
full believe that the first OF these candles is kim
died from that supernatural fire.
The dawn OF Easter Sunday is celebrated by a
magnificent procession which %enacts, in impress
sively dramatic fashion, the events Of the resur-
rection morn, when the women found the grave
open and empty. Then the Easter greeting re-
sounds, Christ is risen!" and the response, HE
is truly rlsen!" The Greek mass. celebrated by
40 priests. ends the ceremony.
Although the Easter OF the orthodox church