Easter Celebrations at Jerusalem—By a Missionary Nurse

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVII, Issue 3, 1 July 1928, Page 138

Easter Celebrations at Jerusalem— By a Missionary Nurse

On Palm Sunday we drove out to Bethany, about H miles from Jerusalem. There the Bishop of Jerusalem and several clergymen and about 60 people assembled on the hillside, just above Bethany, and then we all (lead by the Bishop) walked m silence to Jerusalem, taking the route supposed to have been taken by Christ when He entered Jerusalem on the ass. We had a little service, and sang some hymns before we started, then again at the "meeting of the wa}^s," where the ass was found, then again, when overlooking Jerusalem, and finally when we reached the Gates of the Gar-

den of Gethsemane. The Bishop read parts of Scripture appropriate to the occasion and some quotations from Bunyan, etc. It was most impressive. It was a lovely day. rather cold, but just nice for walking, the way was very rocky and steep over the hills.

On Maunder Thursday we had a Communion Service m Christchurch (a little church near St. David's Tower, inside Jaffa Gate) at 7.30 p.m., and afterwards, again led by the Bishop, a large crowd walked through the old city out at Stephen's Gate, and on to the Garden of Gethsemane. There we divided into two groups, one going into the Garden for service of silent meditation, the other going further up the Mount of Olives for a service of hymns and reading from the Scripture. I joined the latter group. It was a most wonderful night, full moon, and there we sat overlooking the city. There was a large Missionary Conference at the time, and many of the Missionaries came to the service. We had prayers m

Chinese, Japanese. French, German, Hindustan, etc.; then we walked back to Jerusalem, getting home about 11.30 p.m.

The Easter services were very beautiful ; we had an augmented choir.

The week after our Easter, the Greeks, Armenians, etc., celebrated theirs. We went to one service m the Armenian Church — the "Service of the Feet Washing." Princess Mary and her party were there. We had tickets for seats, and sat m the second row, so had an excellent view of all the doings. The patriarch and priests were garbed m most beautiful embroidered cloaks. The patriarch wore a very much jewelled mitre. There was much chanting and singing, then the silver basin, cushion, and pyramid of soap, sponge, etc., were brought. The patriarch touk off his beautiful cloak and put on an apron, and then each of the priests went up to have one foot washed. The patriarch broke off a little piece of soap, rubbed it on the foot, and then washed it off with the sponge. There was a Bible on a stand near, and each priest kissed it on the way back to his seat, after putting on his slipper. It was all done most reverently and quietly. The crowd behaved very well. The church was packed.

After all the feet had been washed, our Bishop put on a most beautiful robe, even more beautifully embroidered than the patriarch's, and a wonderful mitre with many jewels. He ascended the platform and read the passage of Scripture telling of the washing of the disciples' feet, and then pronounced the Benediction. It was a most beautiful service.