The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-04-01

f5@1VEN IN distracted Russia Easter
NNIglNlNL will be observed, for the Greek
Ha@&SN Catholic church makes much of
l&AB the celebration and Easter obser-
vance is part of the national life. Certain
ly Easter of 1918 was observed as usual in
many parts of Russia, although the anarchist
disorders were well under way Here is
bit of description from letter written from
Kief:
Easter is the greatest festival of all the
year infinitely more so than Christmas. At
IL o'clock we drove out to the 'Larva, the
oldest monastery and the richest in all Rus
sia. Can you imagine huge courtyard sur
rounded by 40-foot wall and immense COW
cred gateway, groups of large white build
ings all ablaze with light, with snow for a
background; the center building the church,
doors open, the inside lighted by a thousand
candles, and the chanting of 1900 priests.
In the open courtyard were thousands of SOL
diers with uncovered heads, each bearing a
lighted candle. To the right stands the bell
tower, wonderful structure over 200 feet
high At the stroke of IL the most wonder
full bells in Russia peal forth as you have
never heard in America. Thousands of voices
cry Christ is risen,' and the priets come
forth and march around the building"
In the days before the great war no
festivals in Europe attracted so many for
eigners as the celebration in Rome of the holy
week. 1t was not unusual for more than
10000 visitors to be present, large proper
ton of them being English and Americans :
and also Protestants. Doubtless there will
be many visitors this Easter season. Easter
Sunday is the elimination of the ceremonies.
The pope himself oAiciates at high mass in
St. Peters with the most gorgeous ritual. 1t
is after he extends his blessing that the papers
containing prayers are thrown. down from
his balcony to be scrambled for by the con-
gregation.
The celebration of this Easter in Jerusa-
lem will probably be noteworthy. 1t is the
second Easter in seven consecutive centuries
which finds the holy city permanently freed
from the misrule of the Moslem. Moham-
medan misrule and oppression had their be-
ginning Is centuries ago, but the Crusaders
held possession of the city twice-once un-
der Godfrey of Bouillon (1099-1187) and
again under Frederick II (1229-1244. The
British, under General Allenby, were in pos
session at Easter of 1918, but fighting was
going on in all the surrounding region and
the fate of the city was still in the balance
In normal times business in Jerusalem
comes to stop at the Easter season and reli
gious ceremonial is the dominating interest
1t is a sort of fourfold celebration. Tht
Mohammedians contribute by holding pill
grimage to the tomb of Moses. The Jew!
celebrate the passover.
Both the Greek Christian churches hole
elaborate celebrations One of the most strik
ing ceremonies is celebrated by the Greel
church in the Church of the Holy Sepulchel
and is locally called Miracle of the Holy
Fire." The enthusiasm is SO great that a
several celebrations hundreds of worshiper
have been crushed to death.
The essential features of the ceremon.
are the reception and dissemination of tn
"holy fire." The fire is kindled in the hol,
sepulcher, and passed out through an open
ing made for the purpose in the side OF tn
holy tomb. 1t is then made use of to ligh
candles with which every worshiper
equipped. The intention is to symbolic tn
descent of the Holy Spirit. The candles ar
kept as sacred relics and are relighted onl
at marriages. births and deaths.
The reception of the fire is the work o
the patriarch. He appears at the head OF
gorgeous procession of ecclesiastics bishops
archbishops and priests. He leads his fol
lowers three times around the holy tom
: and enters when passing the doorway tn
third time, leaving his followers standin
by. Shortly after the "holy fire" appear
through the opening in the form of bla2
ing torch. Men have been appointed t
snatch the torch. These light their own car
dies and pass it on to their neighbors; ever
burning candle becomes train leading o
the sacred fire to hundred others. Robel