THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10684, 30 December 1925, Page 8

THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

SAFETY OF SACRED TOMB. FEAR OF DISASTER: NEED OF REPAIRS. Christians in all parts of the world will hear with interest, says the “News of the World,” that anxiety is felt by British officials in Jerusalem concerning the stability" of the tomb of our Lord, which stands within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. When the Turks ruled iu Palestine, the historic Christian denominations were « accorded special privileges at the holy places, with the result that control is vested in the local authorities of the various churches. It is stated that this circumstance makes it difficult to obtain the necessary authority for the examination of the sacred tomb, and for the carrying out of repairs. Tombs cut in the solid rock were common on the hillsides of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. In one of these, the property of Joseph of Arimathea the body of our Lord was laid. In less than two generations from the crucifixion Christians fled from the city, which was presently to be devastated by siege at the hands of the Romans.

j During the persecution of the ChrisI tians at the hands of the Roman omlyerors, who were then masters of the | known world, there was no opportunity for organised public activity on the I part of Christians; and nothing could I be done by them to impress on the records c<f time their reverence for the holy places. To be known as a follower of the Cross, as readers of Wiseman’s “Fabioia” will remember, was to be in danger of death. Progress in those ( days of tempest was by the path of blood. Then suddenly something happened which transformed the civilised world. The Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian, and the Cross which was hitherto despised, which could only be received in catacombs or in the secrecy of home life, became the symbol of Imperial honour. By Constantine’s orders search was made for the sacred tomb. This was in A.D. 325, and beyond all doubt the site then fixed upon—no doubt by the help of tradition if such had been preserved— is that to which to-day pilgrims resort from all quarters of the world. At Easter the unending stream of worshippers reaches its flood, tide, and innumerable crosses and other offerings are placed upon the canopy above the tomb, the marble slabs of which are now stated to be bulging ominously. The British officials, who are anxious to effect repairs, must however, arrange matters first with the governing ecclesiastics. These represent the Abyssinian, Armenian, Coptic, Greek, and Latin rites. Thus far, such representations as have been made have not been very successful. In the delicate situation in which the British authorities find themselves in Jerusalem, patience is necessary to avoid introducing new causes of distrust and suspicion. No doubt the tact of the officials, backed by proper assurances, will secure the unanimity -required. Last Easter the British authorities were so afraid of the possibility of some disaster in rise crowded church that they placed a force of police around the tomb to keep the crowd back. Curiously enough the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is controlled by a Mohammedan, the descendant of a family to whom the task was- entrusted centuries ago at the time of the Mohammedan conquest of Palestine.