PILGRIMAGE TO BETHLEHEM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 December 1926, Page 9

PILGRIMAGE TO BETHLEHEM.

Religious Sects Forget Differences.

UNIQUE CEREMONY DESCRIBED

By Cable—Press Association—Copyriuht. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Received December 28, 6.55 p.m.) JERUSALEM, Dec. 27.

A thousand pilgrims, from all parts of the world, in motor-cars, joined in the pilgrimage from Jerusalem to the Shrine at Bethlehem, led by Greek and Roman Catholic patriarchs. The Orient joined with the Occident, Jew with Gentile, while Arabs and Jews, who are usually “at daggers drawn,” forgot their differences,' and joined in the journey.

The pilgrims all day on Saturday and Sunday crowded the Basilica Grotto, which is lighted by fifteen lamps, four representing the Latin Church, five the Armenian Church, and six the Greek Church.

Following Mass on Friday at midnight, the patriarchs led the congregation through the Basilica, depositing an image Of the Infant Christ upon the manger, at the exact spot where he Vas born.