Evening star., 1921-03-27
the most extensively OBJ
- served Of all Christian celebra-
tions. may be said to have had


authentic history of mankind. True
enough, it is kept in commemoration
Of the resurrection Of Christ, and is
the most elaborately celebrated at
Jerusalem, around which centers
much Of the history of the life, teach
ings, death and resurrection Of the
Savior. Year by year many nations
of the earth go up to this ancient
city. All turn to the sacred shrines
as a common home, there to celebrate
the ceremonies of holy week.
In the Church Of the Holy Sepulcher
there is a spot Invariably pointed out
by the guides as the center of the
world. This the devout people who
make their yearly pilgrimages be-
lieye implicitly to be the exact spot.
for Jerusalem is the center of the
religious world, and for Christians OF
every description the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher is the center of in
terest.
The rites Of holy week are presided
over by patriarch, who is the rec
ognized master of ceremonies. He ap-
pears in gorgeous robe with diamond
set cross and icon upon his breast
and jeweled crown of gold upon his
head The whole scene OF the gospel
story is portrayed with ceremonies
during the week. One remarkable
ceremony is that of the holy fire,
which takes place on Saturday. 1t is
claimed by the patriarchs that fire
comes down from heaven on that day
to light their lamps, and If extin-
guished they will be Immediately re-
lighted.
Services of the week close with
Easter mass. in the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher, beginning at mid
night Easter eve and extending well
toward the dawn. At the sound of
bells announcing the close of the
service the pilgrims go out into the
fresh morning air to watch the COM
ing of Easter day and dream of the
beauties and mysteries of religion as
II has come to them through crude
teachings and ancient superstitionS of
the eastern churches.
\ X
Mexico has her holy week, too.
celebrated with pomp and splendor.
sad devotions and old customs that
yuma. The people go from all points
of the compass. far and near. on their
annual pilgrimage to Guadalupe, the
holiest shrine of all Mexico, where
they congregate in immense crowds.
There the descendants of a nation
sunk in paganism for centuries after
the Crucifixion meet to celebrate the
Divine Tragedy that was enacted in
Syria nineteen hundred years ago.
The most solemn week of all the
weeks Of the year is Passion week in
Mexico City. Images. icons and
crucifixes are to be found every
where. The most remarkable of the
ceremonies is the blowing up of
Judas. The betrayer is represented
as a misshapen monster. Hundreds
of his images are sold on Good Fri
day. They are filled with explosives
which blow the doomed figures to
atoms when let off on Saturday morn
ing and the homely arbitrator goes
up in smoke.
The Moravian churches of this
country have their Passion week, with
somewhat peculiar rights. They set
tied in Pennsylvania and North Caro-
lima. At Bethlehem and other places
in Pennsylvania they are the pre-
dominating religious sect. At Salem,
n. c., they established a very inter-
esting and unique colony in 1853.
There they have strong church and
one of the finest colleges in the coun-
try. Religious service is a daily oc-
currence in the church during Pas
sion week. The sacrament is admin
istered and many of the younger set
are confirmed. On Saturday. the