Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-03-22

6HS@k2&2A / Lduu iuuue sacred ny connection
H&&Vy& with the life of Christ. They went
~ at all seasons, but such as could
choose their time for this pilgrimage made it at
Easter. that they might participate in or witness
the wonderful series of services which take place
at the actual scenes of the death and resurrection
ol the savior. No one who has attended the
services OF holy week and Easter at the Church
or the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem has ever
tailed to be deeply impressed by the services.
ana yet but comparatively few people know
mat the unique services preparatory to and cul-
mlnat1ng In Easter which take place In Jerusalem
are reproduced as faithfully as circumstances
VIII permit In one spot in our own land-at the
franciscan monastery on the outskirts of Wash
ington.
The Franciscan order of friars has had charge
Of the holy places of Palestine since early in the
thirteenth century. st. Francis Of Assist. the
FOUNDER or the order, was granted their custody
Dy the In Washington a body of
devout monks has created an establishment which
Is a memorial Of all the holy shrines of Palestine
and reproduces the services taking place there.
The Church Of the Holy Sepulcher, named after
the famous basiica in Jerusalem, and It's attached
monastery Of Franciscan friars are situated to
the northeast Of Washington, three miles from the
United States treasury, regarded as the center Of
the city. The holy brothers were wise inNtheir
selection Of their site, when some Is years ago
they chose the glorious wooded eminence now,
known as Mount st. Sepulcher, overlooking miles !
upon miles Of verdant Maryland on one side and
on the other the capital of the United States. IL
Is a gracious spot and a fitting place for the re-
production of the most sacred places of earth.
In the great church, built upon Byzantine lines,
restrained by the rule Of simplicity Of the order,
In the form Of the fve-fod cross, which was the
coat-of-arms Of the Latin kingdom Of jerusalem,
arc aSSornh1ad faithful concentrations ~ Tho bnlx
shrines Of Palestine, each separate and distinct,
but all combined in q beautiful and harmonious
whole.
The chief feature Of the church, as of the whole
establishment, is the holy sepulcher, which is an
exact reproduction Of the original tomb preserved
In Jerusalem as the holy of holes and sheltered
by the magnificent Church Of Holy Sepulcher,
the mecca Of all Christians. 1t was to preserve
the tomb of Christ that many of the crusaders
of old from various parts Of the world laid down
their lives.
The holy sepulcher in the monastery church
here, as in Jerusalem, consists Of two apartments.
The outer apartment is called the Chapel of the
Angel, because the angel was found seated here
on the morning Of the first Easter. And the inner
chamber, which is the tomb. The chapel Of the
angel is entered by a low arched doorway, sur
mounted by a large relief panel representing
Christ rising from the tomb. A casket Of stone
In the center Of the chamber contains a fragment
Of stone from Jerusalem.
Through an archway so low that one must stOop
far to enter It is the sepulcher Of Christ. 1t is a
replica Of the bare, rOck-hewn cell, the tomb of
Joseph of Arimathea, in which Christ was laid
after his crucifxion. In the original sepulcher
a slab of marble has been laid over the tomb to
cover 1t from desecrating hands. Here that slab
Is reproduced. and on Its lies a figure Of the
Christ, who, after the amounting of his body, lay
here in death from Good Friday until his resur-
rection Easter morn.
Above the tomb Is a facsimile Of the silver re-
lief panel of Raphaels Resurrection which
Cardinal Antonelli donated to the holy sepulcher.
In Jerusalem the soft lamps which dlmly light the
sacred chamber are of gold, silver and precious
stones. Here the reproductions are of simpler
materials, but produce the same effect upon the
hallOwed spot.
1t is at the holy sepulcher that the holy ell.
charist is administered to the throngs who come
to this most sacred shrine Easter Sunday morn
ing.
Above the holy s~epulcher and reached by two
flights of marble steps is the altar Of Thabor, rep
resenting the commonly known Mount Tabor.
where the transfguration of Christ took place In
the presence of Moses and Elias.
To the left Of the holy sepulcher, and the altar
of Thabor is the chapel of st. Francis. The
Sweet Saint Of Assist Is here represented in
the figure above the altar as receiving the en-
brace of our Lord, according to the conception
of Murillo. A relief panel on either side Of the
figure represents, on the right, st. Francis bless
ing st. Louis, king Of France, and st. Elizabeth,
queen Of Hungary, and on the left his stigmati-
zation.
The altar of Calvary, set high above the main
| entrance to the church, Is a replica of the Greek
altar at Jerusalem, which covers the place of the
skull" where the Savior of the world gave up
his life for mankind. Behind the altar Is an im-
! pressive group Of the cruclfixion, consisting OF
| the figure of the Crucfed, with the Virgin Mary
/ and ST. John on either side. Beyond these figures