Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1919-04-17

uTOuSH dN OpcHIAB mouO io'
the purpose In the side of the holy tomb II Is
then made use Of to light candles with which every
worshiper is equipped. The intention is to SYM
bOlize the descent Of the Holy Spirit. The candles
are kept as sacred relics and are relighted only at
marriages, births and deaths.
The reception of the fire Is the work of the
patriarch. He appears at the head of gorgeous
procession of Observation-Disclosures, archbsh0ps
and priests. He leads his followers three times
around the holy tomb and enters when passing the
doorway the third time. leaving his followers
standing by. Shortly after the "h0iy fire" appears
through the opening in the form of blazing
torch. Men have been appointed to snatch the
torch. These light their own candles and pass 1t
on to their neghbOrs z every burning candle be-
comes a train leading on the sacred fire to hun
bred others Robert Kitchens description Of the
scene Is in part this:
SIT came at last With fierce gesture as OF
savage exutation the long haired priest withdrew
his arm from the hole and held up great bunch
of flaming candles And then delirium seized the
close-packed thousands. All the mouths opened to
let out yelas, shrieks and the wild ttterings Of
women. All the arms gesticulated with frenzy
toward the smoky yellow flames. ALI the bodies
struggled desperately, cruelty to get to them. And
the priest dipped his TORCH and suddenly fire be-
gan to rush through the great church. The patri-
arch tore out Of the holy sepulcher and fell In
the Greek cathedral with the fire in his hands.
From the balconies near the blue star-spangled
dome masses of candles were let down by long
cords, were lighted by priests below, and We're
drawn up flaming. Fire encircled the >rotunda
three tiers of fire i. :. Through the glare the
smoke the roaring, the procession bishops
and priests accompanied by soldiers, by acolytes
by banner bearers. by canvasses beating the floor
with their slaves Down the avenue Of
banners and muskets and torches came bearded
and long haired men in magnificent vestments.
and the gorgeous Armenians, almost like NOV
ing idols, clad in the jewels of their wonderful
treasury: and the wthered-loOking Copts and the
astounding Abysslnians, In magenta with partly
shaved heads and great tufts of coars hair, like
the gaudy puppets that people nightmare"
Frora time immemorial the Christians Of Jeru-
salem have observed the events Of Christs passion,
death and resurrection in complete and dramatic
fashion, and 1t was from Jerusalem that Easter
customs spread to other parts Of the world The
earliest record OF these 0bservances is In 38h. All
that time the Christians strove to realize by ap-
ppopriate ceremony and ritual the events of the
last acts In the life Of Jesus Each event was COM
mernorated as fur as possible. on the spot OF its
occurrence. The proper passages from the Gospel
we:e read and appropriate prayers were said as
the clergy and people went In procession from
place to place Bethany. Gethsemane, Gogotha,
tie sepuleher and Olivet. II was during the mid
ne ages that the character Of NE ceremonies
changed greatly, taking on spectacular features
shich have persisted to the present day
Tradition with more 81 less accuracy has hxed
the course Of the VIA Doorosa and The n stations
1t which the chief events on the way 70 the cross
occurred II is followed BY thousands Of visitors
or Easter week.
Eastsr Is tie principal Festival u the Christian