DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0097
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.
ST
left them, suddenly taken the resolution of riding
partly round the city and entering at another gate.
The next morning we visited the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre, 'where we were shown the identi-
cal place in which the "true cross" was fixed when
our Saviour was crucified, and a fissure in the rock
(which was inclosed Avithin the church), said to he
the rent made hy the earthquake on that occasion,
and other similar ohjects. Whatever emotions of
interest or of awe these might have awakened, had
I beheld them untouched by the desecrating hand
of superstition—surrounded, as they were, with so
many inharmonious and unworthy associations,
they excited in me scarcely any other feelings than
those of dissatisfaction and disappointment, not to
say disgust. This church is divided into several
portions, which are under the care of different sects
of Christians. The two principal divisions, how-
ever, belong to the Greek Church and the Roman
Catholics, both having equal and free access to
those parts in which all Christians may be supposed
to have a common interest. This amicable arrange-
ment has been adopted in order to avoid the con-
tinual bickerings and contests which are said to
have taken place formerly between these two bodies
of Christians (!) To the Mohammedans, however, is
ST
left them, suddenly taken the resolution of riding
partly round the city and entering at another gate.
The next morning we visited the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre, 'where we were shown the identi-
cal place in which the "true cross" was fixed when
our Saviour was crucified, and a fissure in the rock
(which was inclosed Avithin the church), said to he
the rent made hy the earthquake on that occasion,
and other similar ohjects. Whatever emotions of
interest or of awe these might have awakened, had
I beheld them untouched by the desecrating hand
of superstition—surrounded, as they were, with so
many inharmonious and unworthy associations,
they excited in me scarcely any other feelings than
those of dissatisfaction and disappointment, not to
say disgust. This church is divided into several
portions, which are under the care of different sects
of Christians. The two principal divisions, how-
ever, belong to the Greek Church and the Roman
Catholics, both having equal and free access to
those parts in which all Christians may be supposed
to have a common interest. This amicable arrange-
ment has been adopted in order to avoid the con-
tinual bickerings and contests which are said to
have taken place formerly between these two bodies
of Christians (!) To the Mohammedans, however, is