THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2308, 28 November 1925, Page 13

THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

SAFETY OF SACRED TOMB. NEED TO REPAIR BUILDING. Christians in all pairta of the world will hear with interest, says the “News of the World," that anxiety is felt by British officials in Jerusalem concernipg the stability of the tomb of Our Lord, which stands within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. When the Turks ruled in 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 ig stated that this circumstance makes It difficult to obtain the neoeir a ary authority for the examination ot the sacred tomb and for the carrying cut of repairs. Tombs cut in the solid rock wore 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 bysiege at the hands of the Romans. During the persecutions of the Christians at the hands of the Roman emperors, who were then masters of the known world, there was no opportunity for organised public activity on the part of Christians; and nothing could be done by them to Impress on the records of time their reverence for the Holy places. To bo known as a follower of the Cross, as readers of Wiseman's exquisite "Fabiola" 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 Ejmporor 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 searen was made for the sacred tomb. This was in A.D. 225, and beyond all doubt the site then fixed upon—no doubt with 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 the crowded church that they placed a force of police around the tomb to keep the crowd back. Curiously enough ,the entrance to the Church or the Holy Sepulchre is controlled by a Moham medan, the descendant of a family to whom the task was entrusted centuries ago at the time of the Mohammedan conquest of Palestine.