The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-03-22

l nominations who could accomplish
the journey to visit spots In the Holy
Yo4s.SsssasaY Land made sacred by connection
u&&VH#I with the life Of Christ. They went
49, at all seasons, but such could
choose their time for this pilgrimage made It at
Easter, that they might participate in witness
the wonderful series of services which take place
at the actual scenes of the death and resurrection
OF the Savior. No who has attended the
services OF holy week and Easter at the Church
of the Holy Sepucher In Jerusalem has ever
failed TO be deeply impressed by the services
And yet but comparatively few people know
that the unique services preparatory to and cul-
minating In Easter which take place In Jerusalem
are reproduced faithfully circumstances
Will permit in one spot in land-at the
franciscan monastery the outskirts of Wash
ington.
The Franciscan order Of fiars has had charge
OF the holy places Of Palestine since early In the
thirteenth century. ST. Francis Of Assist the
founder OF the order granted their custody
by the Mohammedans In Washington a body of
devout monks has created an establishment which
is a memorial of all the holy shrnes OF Palestine
and reproduces the services taking place there
The Church OF the Holy Sepulcher named after
the famous basilica in Jerusalem and its attached
monastery of Franciscan frars are situated to
the northeast Of Washington, three miles from the
United States treasury, regarded the center OF
the city The holy brothers wise In their
selection Of their site, when Is years ago
they chose the glorious wooded eminence
known as Mount st. Sepucher overlooking miles
upon miles Of verdnnt Maryland side and
the other the capital OF the United States. 1t
Is gracious spot and fitting place for the
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 the
coat-of-arms OF the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem,
assembled faithful reproductions of the holy
shrines Of Palestine, each separate and distinct
but all combined In beautiful and harmonious
whole.
establishment, is the holy sepulcher which is an
exact reproduction of the original tomb preserved
In Jerusalem the holy of holies and sheltered
by the magnificent Church of Holy Sepucher,
the mecca Of all Christians. It 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, in Jerusalem, consists of two apartments
The outer apartment is called the Chapel Of the
Angel, because the angel 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 low arched doorway, sur
mounted by large relief panel representing
Christ rising from the tomb 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. It Is a
replica Of the bare rock-hewn cell, the tomb Of
Joseph Of Arimathea, in which Christ was laid
after his cruciixion In the original sepucher
a slab OF marble has been laid over the tomb to
cover It 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
lief panel Of Raphaels Resurrection" which
Cardinal Antonelli donated to the holy sepulcher.
In Jerusalem the soft lamps which dmly light the
sacred chamber are of gold, silver and precious
stones. Here the reproductions of simpler
r1o1. hpt no otto thn
hallowed spot
II Is at the holy sepulcher that the holy eu-
char1st is administered to the thrcngs who come
to this most sacred shrine Easter Sunday morn
ing.
Above the holy sepulcher and reached by two
flights Of marble steps is the altar Of Thabor, rep
reoenting the commonly known Mount Tabor.
where the transhguration 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 receiving the en-
brace Of our Lord according to the conception
of Murillo. 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, wh'"h covers the ''pace of the
skull" where the Savior Of the world gave up
his life for mankind Behind the altar is an i'm
pressve group OF the crucifxion, consisting Of
II figure Of the Crucihed. with the Virgin Mary
St John on either side. Beyond these figures