From
time to time they raised their eyes, and stretched their hands, full
of taper, to heaven, crying all together _eleison_, as if they were
wearied at the delay of the holy fire. This scene continued till
towards three in the evening, when two Greek archbishops and two
bishops habited as patriarchs, for the patriarch was not then at
Jerusalem, left their choir with all their clergy, and began
the procession round the holy Sepulchre: they were joined by the
Armenians, four of whom wore mitres: then came a Coptic bishop, with
all his clergy and people. After they had walked three times round the
holy Sepulchre, a Greek priest came out of the chapel of the Angel,
which is close to that of the holy Sepulchre, and gave notice to him
who represented the Patriarch, that the holy fire had descended from
heaven: the latter then entered into the holy Sepulchre, followed
by the representatives of the Armenian patriarch and of the Coptic
bishop. After they had remained there a short time, we saw the Greek
archbishop in an amusing posture, bending down his head, and bearing
in each hand a quantity of lighted tapers. No sooner had he appeared,
than all rushed one upon another to light their tapers from those of
the archbishop; as that is considered the best fire, which is first
lighted. The Janissaries however, who were stationed near the door
of the chapel of the Angel, did not stand with their arms folded, but
made the calpacs and turbans of the Greeks fly from one end of the
church to the other, striking around on all sides with their sticks,
to make way for the poor archbishop, who also as we may suppose
did all in his power to save himself.
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