The Arvada enterprise., 1919-04-10

the purpose In the side Of the holy tomb. II u
then made use Of to light candles with which every
worshiper Ia equipped. The, intention IL to sym
bolise the descent Of the Holy Spirit The candles
are kept sacred relics and relighted only at
marriages, births and deaths
The reception Of the nre Ia the work Of the
patriarch. He appears at the head Of gorgeous
procession Of Observation-Disclosures. archblsh0ps
and priests. He leads his followers three times
around the holy tomb aud enters when passing the
doorway the third time. leaving his followers
standing n.y. Shortly after the "hoiy hre" appears
through tise openlns In the form Of q blazing
torch. Men have been appointed to snatch the
TORCH These light their own candles and pass Il
On to their neiGhb0rs: every burning candle be-
comes . train leading the sacred IRE to hun.
bred others. Robert Hichsns' description Of the
scene II In part this:
ut came at last. with . nercs gesture a. Of
savage exultatlon the l0ng.hairsd priest withdrew
bis arm from the hole and held up q great bunch
Of flaming candles. And then delirium seised the
close-packed Thousands All the mouths opened to
Yet out yslls. shrieks and the Wild ttterings Of
women. All the arms seSticulated with frensy
toward the smoky yellow flames. All the bodies
struggled desperately. cr6elly to get to them And
the priest dipped his torch. and suddenly Ore b.
gan to rush through the great church. The path.
arch tore out Of the holy sepulcher and fell II
the Greek cathedral with the hre In his handa.
From the balconies near the blue star-spansisd
dome massex Of candles were let down by long
Cords were lighted BY priests below and were
drawn up flaming. Fire encircled tho rotunda,
three tiers Of hre. Through tho glare, the
smoke. the roaring. the process0n . bishops
and priests. accompanied by soldises, by aco,yts4
hy banner bearers. by canvas~es beating the Aoop
with their Staves . Down the aveuus Of
banners and muxketx aud torches came bssr6sd
snd Ions. haired men In magnificent vextmsnts.
and the gorgeous Armenians. almost like NOV.
Ing idols. clad In the Jewels of their wonderful
treasury; and the w1thered.lookinx Copts and the
astounding Abyssinsns In magenta with partly
shaved heads and great tufts Of coarse hair. Ike
the gaudy puppets that people q Nightmare"
From time iinmssn0rial the Christians Of Jeru.
salem have observed the events Of Christs passion,
death and resurrection IL complete and dramatic
fashion, and II WAS from Jerusalem that Easter
customs spread 10 other perts Ut the world. tn
earliest record NJ the~e 0bservanceS In In 385. At
that time the Christians strive To .rcalixe by 90.
propriatc ceremony and ritual the events of the
last acts In the life Of Jesus. Each event was com.
,u~morxtst M far NM i,ossibls. the spO& of IT,
occurrence. The proper pass~Ees from tho Go~pel
we're read md appropriate prayers were said -
the clergy md people went In procession from
plscs 70 plnce-I,ethany. 1ethseinnns. OOigotha,
the sepuIch~r and Olivst II wns during the MID.
die ssea TINT the character NJ the ceremonies
changed greatly. taking ~ spectacular features
which have persisted 10 the pre~ssit day.
Tradition with more or iess accuracy hes nxed
IT, course Of the Via DOIOrOSa and the ~ stations
NJ which the chief events on the way "a the cross
occurred. !. In followed by Thousands NJ visitors
90 Easter week.
Easter 10 tie PRINCIPAL festival Of the christas