Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-28
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~AOR many centuries past 1t has been
the custom Of Christians Of all de-
nominations who could accomplish
the Journey to visit spots In the Holy
n8$ssN61H Land made sacred by connection
with the life of Christ. They went
- at all seasons. but such as could
choose their time for this pilgrimage made 1t ut
Ease: th.t they might participate in or witness
the wonderful series of services which take place
ut the actual scenes of the death and resurrection
or the Savior. No one who has attended the
services of holy week and Easter at the Church
or the Holy Sepulchcr in Jerusalem has ever
tailed to be deeply impressed by the services.
And yet but comparatively few people know
that the unique services preparatory to and cul-
mlnatilg 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 frlars has had charge
or the holy places of Palestine since early in the
thirteenth century. st. Francis of Assist, the
founder of the order. was granted their custody
by the In Washington a body of
devont monks has created an establishment which
Is a memorial Of all the holy shrines of Palestine
hnd reproduces the services taking place there.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcler. named after
the famous basilica in Jerusalem, and its 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 in their
selection of their site. when some Is years ago
they chose the glorious wooded emlnence 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. It
Is Il 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-fold cross. which was the
coat-of-arms of the Latin kingdom Of Jerusalem,
are assembled faithful reproductions of the holy
shrines of Palestine, each separate and distinct,
but all combined in a 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 n low arched doorway. sur
mounted by Il 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 50 low that one must stoop
far to enter 1t Is the sepnlcher Of Christ. It is a
replica Of the bare, rock.hewn cell, the tomb Of
Joseph Of Arimathea, in which Christ was laid
after his crucifxlon. 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 II 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 IL a fac-simile Of the silver re.
lief panel Of Raphaels Resurrection" which
Cardinal AntonelM donated to the holy sepulcher.
In Jerusalem the soft lamps which dimly 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 ut the holy sepulcher that the holy en-.
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 TRANSPORTATION Of Christ took place n
the presence Of Moses and Elias.
To the left Of the holy s~epulcher. and the altar
Of Thabor Is the chapel Of st. Francis. Thu
"Sweet Saint Of Assist Ia here represented II
the figure above the altar MS receiving the EN-
brace Of our Lord, according to the conception
Of Murillo. A relief panel on either side Of tn,
figure represents. on the right, st. Francis bless
ing 81. Louis, king Of France, and st. Elizabeth
queen Of Hungary, md on the left his stigmatl
cation.
The altar Of Calvary, set high above the mair
entrance to the church, Is a replica Of the Greel
altar at Jerusalem. which covers the "piace Of tn,
skull" where the Savior Of the world gave vi
his life for mankind. Behind the altar IL an In
pressive group Of the cruci6xion. consisting o.
the figure Of the Cruclned, with the Virgin Mar,
and o. John on either side. Beyond thsss nguret