Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/88

82 the church the ready blessing of their mouth is "God be merciful unto your soul."

On Sunday mornings the great assembly of men and women in the church reverently stand up while the priest is officiating the holy sacrament; and the children, arrayed in white robes with red crosses on them, and holding lights in their hands, turn around the main altar sweetly singing: "Lift up your heads, O, ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in." In the presence of such a scene one is reminded of the heavenly seraphin and cherubin which turn day and night around the throne of the Almighty.

2. The Passion Week in the Armenian Church. After celebrating the glorious entrance of our Saviour into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and following the events of the first part of the week, on Thursday afternoon twelve priests and deacons sit together before the main altar, and imitating the significant events of the upper room in Jerusalem, one of them, the highest in rank, girds the apron, a sign of humility, and approaches the company of twelve, and one by one wash their feet, at the same time repeating portions of the farewell speech of our Lord. One of them taking Peter's part seems too humble to let the Great Master wash his feet, but being persuaded of its necessity, submits himself to the will of the Master.

At midnight of the same evening, while the scene of the crucifixion is represented with ideal solemnity and sincere piety, all the candles are put