The Ordway new era., 1916-04-21


church was indicated by the many
temporary stands. decorated with col
ored tissue paper-which ornamenteo
:he street corners, where were SOLO
candles of every size-larger and mol
low at the end to fit over metal point
Of many-pronged church Candida
brum, and tapering to sharp point at
the other end. where they we're tied In
punches by their wicks, and hung In
the booths alternating. yellow and
white. At the corners hung those OF
should be there to join in their most
unique celebration.
Light flashed upon US. however.
when we discovered in the hallway Of
the hotel calendar. in large Greek
type, which read as follows: March
26. Thursday" and underneath in
small type in French: April 8. Holy
Thursday" showing that the Greek
calculation is thirteen days behind the
rest Of Europe, therefore for them,
Easter had not yet arrived.
That afternoon our discovery was
confirmed as we walked through the
old part of town, where the shops are.
The counter Of the public baker. whose
shop opened to the street, was lined
with rows of round loaves Of bread
awaiting the ordeal Of the fiery fur.
mace. Each contained five bright-red.
hard-boiled eggs. pressed halfway into
the soft dough in the shape Of Greek
cross; all exactly alike. but each dis
tinguished from its neighbors by slip
of paper sticking to the dough. which
bore the name Of the housewife who
had kneaded 1t.
On Good Friday we directed our
course by the dome-crowned spires of
the Russian church. where the queen.
the sister of the czar, and the Russian
minister, occupied opposite boxes.
At the close of the beautiful service.
the responses Of which were sung by
a marvellous choir Of unaccompanied
male voices, the priests brought to the
front a representation Of tomb. hav-
ing half.draped figure of Christ paint
ed on the top. and the sides covered
with rich embroidery of white and
gold. N#
The queen advanced, kissed the rep
resentation Of the dead body, and then
the hand Of the officiating priest. from
whom she received stalk Of white
sillyfiower, and with the Russian min
lister. who followed her example. left
the church. The others of the audience
concluded their worship in the same
manner, each bearing away q floral
reminder Of the coming resurrection.
That night these representations Of
the entombed Christ were borne in
solemn procession from the five prin-
cipal churches, attended by the priests
In gorgeous robes. acolytes bearing
banners and colored lanterns, and fol.
lowed by the members of the parish.
each carrying lighted candle
At intervals, the procession halted
and a service was held; then each con-
xregation returned to its own church,
and long after all was still, in Athens,
the flickering lights of the priests Of
the Church OF st. George could be seen
winding up the zigzag path to their
sanctuary on the top Of Lykabettos.
the pointed hill which rises abruptly
from the heart Of Athens.
with the enshrining Of Christ's body
IN the tomb on Friday fast was be-
run. lasting until the morning OF his
reaurrection. Therefore, Saturday was
quietly spent until an hour or 30 be-
fore midnight. when streams Of peo-
ple. each person bearing Q lighted
candle, poured through the streets
leading into the great square before
fhe church of the metropolitan.
The great edifice. illumined By thou
sands Of huge candles In chandeliers
and candelabra, was packed 70 the
doors. and the square was alled TO