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Show oijyi ifiiii4LiiiiiJ ft I11 r ''2 ! ri H i if f ills : Kite at iflmmt tfepul- rljer Are 3ltonttral JUttI) (Elpz? jtlb in Jkroaakm ( 4 ' t "OIl many centuries past it has been Fthe custom of Christians of all denominations de-nominations who could accomplish i the journey to visit spots in the Holy W)iy&$Sa Land made sacred by connection ll$5$ with "the life of Christ. They went mi at all seasons, but such as could choose their time for this pilgrimage made it at Easter, that they might participate in or witness the wonderful series of services which take place nt the actual scenes of the death and resurrection of the Savior. No one who has attended the services of holy week and Easter at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem has ever failed to be deeply impressed by the services. And yet but comparatively few people know that the unique services preparatory to and culminating cul-minating in Easter which take place in Jerusalem are reproduced as faithfully as circumstances will permit in one spot in our own land at the Franciscan monastery on the outskirts of Washington. Wash-ington. The Franciscan order of friars has had charge of the holy places of Palestine since early ij the thirteenth century. St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the order, was granted their custody by the Mohammedans. In Washington a body of devout monks has created an establishment which Is a memorial of all the holy shrines of Palestine and reproduces the services taking place there. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, named after the famous basilica in Jerusalem, and its attached monastery of Franciscan frinrs are situated to the northeast of Washington, three miles from the United States treasury, regarded as the center of the city. The holy brothers were wise in their selection of their site, when some 15 years ago they chose the glorious wooded eminence now known as Mount St. Sepulcher, overlooking miles upon miles of verdant Maryland on one side and on the other the capital of the United States. It is a gracious spot and a fitting place for the reproduction re-production of the most sacred places of earth. In the great church, built upon Byzantine lines, restrained by the rule of simplicity 'of the order, In the form of the five-fold cross, which was the coat-of-arms of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, are assembled faithful reproductions of the holy shrines of Palestine, each separate and distinct, but all combined in a beautiful and harmonious whole. The chief feature of the church, as of the whole establishment, is the holy sepulcher, which is an exact reproduction of the original tomb preserved In Jerusalem as the holy of holies and sheltered by the magnificent Church of Holy Sepulcher, the mecca of all Christians. It was to preserve the tomb of Christ that many of the crusaders of old from various parts of the world laid down their lives. The holy sepulcher in the monastery church here, as in Jerusalem, consists of two apartments. The outer apartment is called the Chapel of the Angel, because the angel was found seated here on the morning of the first Easter. And the inner chamber, which is the tomb. The chapel of the angel is entered by a low arched doorway, surmounted sur-mounted by a large relief panel representing Christ rising from the tomb. A casket of stone in the center of the chamber contains a fragment of stone from Jerusalem. Through an archway so low that one must stoop far to enter it is the sepulcher of Christ. It Is a replica of the bare, rock-hewn cell, the tomb of Joseph of Arimalhea, in which Christ was laid after his crucifixion. In the original sepulcher a slab of marble has been laid over the tomb to cover it from desecrating hands. Here that slab is reproduced, and on its lies a figure of the Christ, who, after the anointing of bis body, lay here in death from Good Friday until his resurrection resur-rection Faster morn. Above the tomb is a facsimile of the silver relief re-lief panel of Kapliael's "Resurrection," which Cardinal Antonelli donated lo the holy sepulcher. In Jerusalem the soft lamps which dimly light the sacred chamber are of gold, silver and precious stones. Here the reproductions are of simpler materials, but produce (be same effect upon the hallowed spot. It is at the holy sepulcher (hat the holy eu-charist eu-charist is administered to Hi" Ihronirs who come to this most sacred shrine Faster Sunday morning. morn-ing. Above the holy sepulcher and reached hy two (lights of marble steps is the altar of Thalior, representing rep-resenting the commonly known Mount Tabor, where the transfiguration of Christ took place in the presence of Moses and Kiias. To the left of the holy sepulcher, and I he altar of Thabor is the chapel of St. Francis. The 'Sweet Saint, of Assisi" is here represented in the JiL'iire above the altar as receiving the embrace em-brace oT our Lord, according to the conception of Mui'illo. A relief panel on either side of the figure represents, on the riL'lit, St. Francis blessing bless-ing St. Louis, king of France, and SI. FlizMiet h, queen of Hungary, and on the left his sllgmatl-za sllgmatl-za lion. The altar or Calvary, set high above the main entrance to the church. Is a replica of the Greek altar at Jerusalem, which covers the "place of the skull," where the Savior or the world gave up his life for mankind. Behind tin; altar is an Impressive Im-pressive group of the crucifixion, consisting of the figure of the Crucified, with the Virgin Mary und SI. John on either sldu. Beyond these figures are, on either side, two monuments, one of Mary Magdalene; the other known as the "Pieta" and representing the lifeless body of Christ in the arms of his mother after the descent from the cross. The distance from this representation of Mount Calvary to the holy sepulcher, across the length of the great church, is about the same as are the originals from each other in Jerusalem, and the height is the same as Mount Calvary. Beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is a series of underground chambers which are true copies of several of the sacred spots In Palestine. The Easter services at Mount St. Sepulcher actually ac-tually commence a week before, for the rites of holy week are but a preparation for the glorious celebration of Easter. They are carried out with full detail and liturgical splendor and after the manner of those at Jerusalem, the seat of the actual shrines of Christ, where the Franciscan friars have been the custodians since 1223, when the fervor and piety of St. Francis won this right for himself and his followers. The first service of holy week takes place Palm Sunday with the nine o'clock mass, when the celebrant blesses and distributes the palms at the central altar. After this the traditional procession proces-sion takes place, in representation of our Lord's triumphal entry Into Jerusalem, when the multitudes multi-tudes waved palm branches before him and shouted shout-ed "Hosannah to the Highest!" This service is similar to that now celebrated in Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After the procession round the monastery church nt Washington, high mass is celebrated and the passion sung according to the gospel of St. Matthew. Late on Wednesday afternoon the matins of Holy Thursday, commonly called Tenehrae, are sung in the church, which is but dimly lighted. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, is a day of festival because it is the anniversary of the institution in-stitution of the Lord's supper. Good Friday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Sepul-cher is observed with rites of unique solemnity. At (he morning service of this day no one save the celebrant receives the holy communion. No mass is celebrated in any Catholic church on this day. In black vestments, accompanied by bis ministers, the celebrant goes to the altar, which is bare but for the candlesticks and crucifix covered cov-ered with a purple cloth. The officiant and ministers min-isters prostrate themselves before the altar during dur-ing the singing of part of the Scriptures. Then while kneeling n plain white linen cloth is spread upon (he bare altar, which is now in darkness. The passion, according lo St. John's gospel. Is then sung by three deacons, as on I'alm Sunday, after which (he crucifix on the main altar is unveiled un-veiled and brought down lo the allar steps, where clergy and people venerate it. Iuiring this ceremony cere-mony all the crucifixes in the church have been unveiled. Afler the veneration of the crucifix (lie friars form in procession and proceed to the holy sepulcher, sep-ulcher, when the sncrani-nl is brought back ill solemn state to the central allar. The oliiclant then consumes the sacred species and the clergy leave the altar in silence. The Good Friday evening service at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is unique in (his country, and represents the burial of our Lord, following closely that performed til Jerusalem. The church Is in comparative darkness and the scenes in this dim light take on an added solemnity. Previous to this service the figure of Christ has been taken from its year-long resting place in (lie holy sepulcher sep-ulcher and Is now( reclining on a bier in front of (he representations of Mount: Calvary. The figure is Incensed; prayers are said, and, following follow-ing the first of a series of sermons in various languages Is preached from the spot. Then the solemn procession Is formed. Tho dead Christ on the iier, partly covered by a pall, Is borne by the m-wiks. Preceding this, at the bead of the cortege, are carried representations of the crown of thorns, of (he three nails which pierced hands an feet, of the spear which wounded wound-ed (he side nnd of (he sponge filled with vinegar which they gave him to drink. The procession moves slowly round (he church, stopping at intervals before the various altars. The bier is rested at each until a sermon in a different language Is preached. The figure is finally rested upon the stone of unction, which is in front of the holy sepulcher, and the last sermon is then preached. After the sermon the figure is again incensed, prayers are recited and the dead Christ is laid to rest for another year in the holy sepulcher. On Holy Saturday, or Easter eve, quite a number num-ber of old Mturgical riles are observed at the Church ot (he Holy Sepulcher. Chief among them is the blessing of the paschal candle at the nine o'clock morning service. On the evening of Holy Saturday the church Is beautifully decorated with Easter flowers and jjreens, and there is held the "service of resurrection." resur-rection." The friars go to the part of the church in front of the holy sepulcher and (hen chant the solemn matins of the resurrection. At the conclusion con-clusion of this office the celebrant and his ministers minis-ters proceed to the holy sepulcher and the blessed sacrament is brought out in triumph. In gorgeous procession, amid hymns and the pealing of the organ, it is carried round through the various chapels, and finally to the high altar, where the solemn benediction is bestowed, and the first service of Easter is over. The Faster Sunday masses, following the custom cus-tom of those in Jerusalem, are said In the holy sepulcher every half hour from 5:111) in the morning. morn-ing. At nine o'clock a solemn high mass Is said at the central altar, when the gorgeous Easier music is beautifully rendered by the monastery choir before a congregation which crowds the great edifice. A custom of several years' standing at I lie first service of Faster Sunday is the attendance at-tendance in a body of a large number of Howard university students, who walk out to the monastery monas-tery church to parlnko of the early Easier sacrament. sacra-ment. At the .'1 ::0 service in the afternoon (lie ('limiting of the ollice of compline is followed by the solemn benedict ion of the blessed sacrament. If Easter da;' be bright and sunny, such of the grounds of the church nnd monastery as may ho explored by the public are filled wilh sightseers afler this song service. They wander through the well-kept grounds and generally find their way lo Ihe grotto of I.oiirdes. lying in a lillle valley to the south of the monastery. This is a facsimile reproduction of the famous shrine of the Pyrenees, Pyre-nees, created by the Franciscan friars here for the benefit of those pilgrims who cannot see the famous grolto of miraculous healing in its native home in the south of France. It Is only upon special occasions that one may penetrate the seclusion of tile beautiful cloisters and courtyard of (he monastery, the great, severely severe-ly plain rectangular building behind the church. The courtyard, willi Its vine-covered cistern In (he center, is a spot of rich beauty, which lends additional charm to the graceful ambulatory, where the friars take exorcise and recreation In Inclement wealher. Nor may one, except by special spe-cial privilege, penelrale the beautiful private grounds of the monastery nnd enjoy the . exquisitely kept garden and grounds which tliu monks huve created behind their home. |