Evening star., 1919-04-20
The Annual Passion Play in Old Jerusalem

back to the days Of Abraham and etsa
Of Adam.
In secluded spot outside the city
Of Jerusalem there is q little fertile
valley, where grow ancient olive trees,
and which Is fragrant with many
wild flowers. In the midst Of this VAL
ley Of Gihon, on the southwest Of
Jerusalem. Is Greek convent called
the Convent Of the Cross. This Is ono
of the most valued possessions Of the
Greek Church. The story which is
woven around this spot is very pecul4
lar. linking together biblical characI
ters OF all ages into strange legend.
which sVpposes them all to have had
something to do with the tree which
was planted In Abraham's day and
nnalIy became the cross Of Christ.
The convent presents a very medie<
val appearance. being large, gloomy,
square building of stone. The bell
ringing for mathis and vespers and
re-echoing over these hills is heard
only by the devout within the con.
vent, and perhaps by some stray peas
ant treading his way over the hills
to Jerusalem. or a shepherd boy play.
ing his flute as he leads his sheen
home. The convent was established by
the Greek patriarch Of Jerusalem to
form boarding school for youths
wishing to be trained for the priest-
hood. Some of the students are natives
or Palestine, and others come from
Greece. They all speak modern Greek.
Fifty youths are admitted at once.
There are ten professors. who instruct
them in all branches Of education, as
well as In theology. 1t is a seven-
year course. The youths live very
plainly. their board being of the sim.
plest.
4 \
In olden times an interesting cus4
tom was observed in this convent.
The father guardian on welcoming
weary pilgrims. who were passing
through this valley. invited them to
come In and rest, and with great de-
votion and humility removing their
dusty sandals. washed their tired feet.
AS he performed the ceremony the
other monks stood around and sang
hymns. Then the priests came in pros
cession and kissed the feet Of the Pill.
grims.
The chapel within the convent Is not
large, but it is richly decorated, as usual
in Greek churches. At the eastern end
OF the chapel are some steps, above
which Is high screen Of carved wood
and gilt. inclosing a small chancel.
where mass is celebrated. A stain
across the altar marks the bloodshed at
the Persian massacre under Chrosoes.
The pavement is Of mosaic laid in elabo-
rate patterns made Of innumerable
stones. On each side Of the aisles are
large columns decorated with frescoes Of
saints in quaint attire. The music Is all
vocal. as the Greek church never en-
ploys instruments for worship. The
priests voices are we'll trained and their
part songs are harmonious. No seats
are provided in the Greek Church; tho
worshipers must either stand or kneel
on the marble floor.
A passage behind the altar leads to
steps cut out in the rocks which descend
into cave. Here is a hole in the
ground trimmed in silver and filled with
red earth. This indicates the spot
where the "accursed tree grew. Tho
monks bow before it with lighted tapers
and. touching the earth with their nm
gers. they kiss them reverently. A large
crevice in the rock above marks the
place whore the tree extended and push
ed out its roots.
Tho chapel is full Of the customary
Greek pictures Of saints. with pearls
and diamonds attached to their cloth
ing. All heads are encircled by ghttsr-
ing silver crowns.
It Still Held Good.