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•A/fhRISTMASV MAhFPMIBy Evangeline Ben-OlielMODERN BETHLEHEMmanger, whore It remains during Christmas \v ?ok for devout worshipers to visit. Such is the ceremony held by the Latins on Christinas eve.The Greek church in Palestine celebrates the festival of the nativity onethe Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and, sad to say. because of the frequent quarrels between the different sects which meet within this church at a time of general rejoicing, Turkish soldiers, with drawn swords, are onCopyright, I9di% by Evangeline Ben-OlUlBOUT nineteen hundred and the only remains of the church builtlii Qt I f fillttim ik? iiirttoM Itv t uin fillMANGER* CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY* BETHLEHEM,two years ago. in the reign of Cn*snr Augustus, the little town of Bethlehem, six miles sou lb of Jerusalem, was crowded with visitors at alout this time of the year, all coming to be taxed In their native country. In a cave, below the principal inn or khan of the to\*n, where the oxen were usually kept, m gentle Jewish maid bent lovingly over her Babe. A light from heaven llklmlncd the rude manger where He peacefully lay and shed a brilliant radiance over the scene.Several hundred years later the pious Empress Helena of Home visited Palestine and discovered this grotto in Bethlehem, which had served as aABOUT nineteen huntirea ana *— ------T , ~ ntwo yearn lt;ino in the reign b‘ st- Helena. * owned b' 1hem of Ci'. sar \uKUHtua the lit- ta co,nnlon- 11 bna 11 lo« double ill,e L tie town of Bethlehem, six of Corinthian plllan. similar to those k Io..no.,imn which a re found In the Mosque ofOmar on the site of the ancient temple in Jerusalem. The faded mosaic on the wall and the rough ceiling of beams from the cedars of Lebanon are the only treasures remaiuiug in this edifice, which was once blazing with gold and silver. This ancient building adjoins the one now in use and is only divided from It by a small door.Here are the usual altars and images which are found in the Latin church nil over the orient, and in the Greek portion are the curious pictures whichBettuenem, wn.cn u„u aerveu a* a the Greeks revere In theptaceof humble shelter for the Christ Child. *“**«• A spiral staircase of fourteenttrssrsvs sus 1 ,?o I ™. to? cm* r„„,.| jjrHsrr£ sjssThe remains of that beautiful building • *■ composed. of (he silverare st... to be seen In the city of Beth- £*» SnaBo.m'ins a strange fact ™s ?£ su^^o^KBethlehem was pre eminentlj n city onsssavtsrsi «to be descended from that race, though cling It. some travelers think they see a resemblance in their appearance to the Jewish type. The town which saw the birth of Christ is inhabited almost on- ; tirely by Christians. They are a thrifty nud Industrious people and superior In every way to the other village dwellers round about Jerusalem.Bethlehem is one of the oldest towns in Palestine. It has existed as n town for over four thousand years. The houses are built of white limestone and have flat roofs, on which the people spend their summer evenings enjoying the cool air from the mountains. The streets are narrow and irregular. and might better be called lanes, for there la but one real street In Bethlehem. This leads from the country road Into the town and terminates In the large open square In front of the Church of the Nativity.On Christmas eve this square is filled with people dressed in their gayest attire and adorned with all the©ryHIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS EST.week later than the Latin church. For guard throughout the building, for weeks before Christmas the Greeks these various Christians who worship fast in order to better prepare their ; in the same church at times forget hearts for the true worship of the that He whom they all adore come tom I It. . . I 1 . . I t % • , ll_ «... nil nnctli anil tr tu I XV 111Saviour on the day of His nativity. They also celebrate Christmas withinbring “pence on earth and good will toward men.”Above the altar twelve lamps are banging, to represent the twelve npos- | ties. Three steps more lead down to another chapel over the alleged stall in which, according to Latin tradition, the wooden manger was discovered.On Christmas eve the pilgrims crowd around the church awaiting the hour of opening In order to get good seats to witness the grand ceremony. Every man, woman and child who c»n possibly come Is present. The nave being devoid of any seats, the people sit or kneel ou the marble floor, making a curious mass of red fezes and white veils. In silent prayer they await the hour of the service. Meanwhile the strains of the Te Deum softly rise from the great organ.Presently a procession of bishops and { archbishops, attired In their most gor-SLrr I STSLZSl1and coin, they possess. Christians boys dressed In scar-let, who constitute the choir. 'The handsomest church decorations are kept for this yearly service.The deep, well trained voices of the ■ choir Join In singing beautiful anthems, after which there Is a great deal of chanting without much variatjqu. Sev-I eral times during the service the bish ops. one after another, absent them selves to reappear in different attire each of the robes beta*, if possible, more gorffTOUB than tbe lastAt midnight there is a sudden lull In the music and hells in the distance ring the midnight chime. Then, as by magic, a curtain is drawn aside and over the chancel gates a cradle appears to the wondering gaze of tbe worshipers and within the cradle an image of the babe. Tbe Gloria in Kx-1 cel sis is sung and the bells continue to peal merrily, announcing to all Belle A MODERN madonna in bethlkhem. )e,iem that It Is Christmas day. 1from every part of the country bambino” orjmage ofjbc babe ^ gather here on this night Lat us. no' ^ rQtrate t,ielI)8C|ves onGreeks. Armenians ami Copts the ground in adoration. The proces-Tbe enormous doUectlou of Joined * nriests nmLiuonks andlih*-' -------the bid from east to west consists of incense sll around, Jt. T 'delatingthe Church of the Nativity, surrounded be ng . lnto grotto and theto th. •»«lt;** n.™.aud the Armenian. P‘IK * Htens descending into theThe Church of the Nativity Is tbe | way an QQW wlth mUCh pomp,oldest in Christendom. It belongs to • antjng Gf the priests andthese three sects, each of which has a JiI the chan ,fly the ut.separate chapel within for its own lmage tn the chapel of tbeservices. The large basilica, which is tie waxen *CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY. BETHLEHEM.
Newspaper Details
Weiser Signal
Weiser, Idaho, US
Wed, Dec 24, 1902
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Kate M.
USA 02 Oct 2021
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