Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8Paxton, J. D. (John D.)
Religion
Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8
Paxton, J. D. (John D.)
Palestine -- Description and travel
At the west end of the holy sepulchre, and in contact with it, is a
small chapel for the Copts. It is but a few feet square, and is like
a shed or tent-like place, put up against the end of the sepulchre.
This chapel stands, of course, within the large circular room in
the middle of which the holy sepulchre is placed. To the west, and
only separated by a slight wall, is a small chapel for the Syrian
Christians. It is a small dark place, seldom if ever used. Adjoining
it is the tomb of Nicodemus, a little dark hole quite in keeping
with his fear of the day when he came to Jesus by night; but as he
afterwards came out openly in favour of his lord, he deserved a
better tomb than they have allowed him.
To the south of the holy sepulchre, but raised so as to permit
the entrance to pass under it, is the chapel of the Armenians. It
does not equal that of the Greeks or Latins, but far exceeds the
Copts and Syrians'. Thus the large and nearly circular area with a
dome over it, in the middle of which the holy sepulchre is placed,
is surrounded with chapels, separated from it by single walls,
through which they are entered from the large area. All this mass
of building is called the church of the holy sepulchre. There are a
number of other places pointed out, in and about it, as places at
which some of the facts recorded are said to have taken place--as
where the centurion stood, who declared his belief that Jesus was
the Son of God. But I have said enough about these places. My memory
was so burdened with these things, it would not be strange if I
should have lost some on the way, and possibly I may have misplaced
some of them, not designedly however, in giving this brief detail.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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