Show Pilgrims Make Annual Trek to B as Christmas Christma Nears 1 BETHLEHEM Dec 22 NEA NEA- NEA For twenty centuries all nil roads have led ld to Bethlehem on Christmas eve Every Christmas eve evo a strange motley procession jams the six-mile six stretch of highway that reaches from Jerusalem to the little town where Jesus Christ was born In the he manger In It are European an and l American tourists native Syrians In their quaint Old Testament garb modern automobiles and rind mule-drawn mule wagons wagons wagons wa wa- gons beggars and priests prIests all all re retracIng retracing retracing re- re tracing tho the route that the three viso men of the east led by bya a star followed followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed nearly 2000 years ago They rhey are are on their way to the Christmas eve ceremonies In the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem Bethlehem Bethlehem Bethle Bethle- hem a queer huddled together r church said to cover the tho exact site of the he manger in which Christ was born The road between Jerusalem and md Bethlehem hasn't changed much in the Intervening years To 10 Tobe Tobe be sure it Is mad made of asphalt now adapted to the automobile and policed by traffic officers whereas It was a dusty affair of white stones In the days of the Gospels but the surrounding countr countryside side with rolling pasture lands and barren barren barren bar bar- ren hills looks much the same as asIt asIt asit It did lid In Biblical times CHRISTMAS EVE PROCESSION On Christmas eve It is Jammed from end to end by tho the procession The pilgrims cover its entire length moving slowly through the scenes that to a Christian are the most sacred and significant on earth They travel now in autos lorries and on donkeys and on bi hi- hi cycles Out through the Jaffa gate near which the crucifixion Is be believed be be- to have tal taken en place winds the long cavalcade past a well by byan byan byan an olive grove where according g to tradition tho the three thle magi stopped to drink and saw in the water the reflection of the star that had blossomed for their guidance and heralded the birth of Christendom Tending their flocks s In the be surroundIng surrounding surrounding sur sur- rounding fields are shepherds dressed in long gowns and wearing turban-like turban handkerchiefs about their heads with sheepskins over their shoulders Beyond a doubt their appearance is Identical with that of the shepherds who ages ago were watching over the flocks by night when they saw a vision and he heard rd the angels sing A A- Afield field to the left according to tradition Is the very field In I which Ruth garnered wheat for I old Boaz then comes the tomb of Rachel followed by a hill hm on I which say the natives stood the building in which Judas Iscariot betrayed his Lord for 30 pieces of I silver Then the procession swings round lound a hill and reaches Bethlehem Bethlehem Bethle Bethle- hem itself BUSY LITTLE BETHLEHEM Bethlehem Is a a. little town with Its white stone-houses stone huddled closely about bout narrow winding str street et through which autos and wag g wagons ns can scarcely pass The houses with flat fIat roofs latticed windows windows windows win win- dows and central courts occasionally occasionally occasionally occasion occasion- ally arch overhead to shut the sun off of the pavement below countless booths and bazars line Une the narrow narrow streets where women and girls sell carved crosses rosaries rosaries rosaries rosa rosa- ries and oUter othier religious objects to the tourists There Is always the noisy hubbub of ot the shopkeepers cryIng out lOut their wares Suddenly there appear at the he head d of the procession the three patriarchs of the Christian faith In Jerusalem Jerusalem dignitaries dignitaries of the Orthodox Orthodox Orthodox Orth- Orth j i church resplendent In their bejewelled vestments In their train are attendant archbishops bishops or archimandrites al also o dressed In colorful robes They lead the way through the formless cluster duster of buildings about the Church of the Nativity built by bv the mother of Constantine Constantino the Great and said to tobe tobe tobe be the oldest Christian church in the world The church stands In a small square surrounded b by stores The entrance to this building Is not Impressive It is a narrow low gateway of plain hewn stone a scant four feet in height so that dignitaries and all have to stoop low to enter The gate gata is b thus cramped because the Mo Mo- for centuries in control control control con con- of Syria did not scruple to drive their cattle into the sacred places of ot the Christians hence the gate ate had bad to be made small smaIl enough to keen th the animals out WHERE CHRIST WAS BORN Inside the basilica becomes more Imposing The proc procession sion s-sion enters an enclosure about feet In length and feet wide divided by massive massive mas mm- sive pillars Into a central nave and two narrow flanking aisles The choir chants hymns and the patriarchs and their attendants attendants attend attend- ants take tall lighted tap tapers rs In their hands Then they advance advancer r to the east end of the church pass through throng a low archway by the choir and descend a flight of steep slippery steps to the Grotto of the Nativity The grotto is a sort of ot cave Inthe in inthe inthe the solid rock Tradition says that this cave existing in Biblical times constituted the stables in which the i Virgin Mary took refuge when she and Joseph learned that there was no room at the inn A small altar lies against the wall lighted by many small silver lamps and on the floor In front of the altar is a silver star marking the exact spot where Christ was born A Latin Inscription Is on the tle star KNEEL AT MANGER Here patriarchs bishops and at attendants attendants attendants at- at kneel In turn o 0 kiss the star the star the climax of ot the annual Christmas eye celebration that has lias been held for tor many centuries When this ceremony has been finished the tourists may light tapers descend to the crypt and kneel likewise at the most sacred spot in Christendom Crowds throng the streets of Bethlehem through the evening evenIn- of De December 24 They are no doubt very similar to the residents o of Bethlehem of 20 centuries ago ago ago- except that they are more war war- like Part of the population is Mohammedan and It is actually necessary for soldiers to be stationed stationed stationed sta sta- about the Church of the Nativity to prevent outbreaks s. s However However However How How- ever no trouble ever occurs That is th thE tho little town of Bethlehem Bethlehem Bethlehem Beth Beth- lehem today twenty centuries s acter after after aft act er the birth of Jesus Christ A A A. |