Zurich Citizens News, 1974-12-23, Page 12PAGE 12
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1974
centuries the Churches dis-
puted possession of the
sanctuary, originally built
by the Roman Emperor
Constantine in 330, and pre-
cedence in worshipping
there. The Greek Catholics
took possession of the build-
ing in 1672. The Roman
Catholics have shared it
since the mid -19th century
with the Greeks, Armenians
have their own chapel and
monastery in this city of
about 25,000 population.
Since the different ob-
servances all involve num-
bers of celebrants, proces-
sions, traffic control, and
other civic problems, the
authorities of Bethlehem
and the surrounding area
would be just as happy if
Christmas were celebrated
universally on one day, but
it is unlikely that such
unanimity will be achieved
soon in the face of the
in the face of the Churches'
different tradtions.
1IODF,Rx BETHU.E1 E\I. viewed frons our of the higher
bell towers in the city. retains many of its age-oldeus-
tonrs and looks much the way it dict during ancient times,
despite modern )vehicles which move through timeless
streets. Photo courtesy Israeli Government Tourist Office.
Climate Key to Time of Holy Birth
The evidence that the
journey of Mary and Joseph
from Nazareth to Bethle-
hem took place in the dry
season, that is, before the
onset of winter, depends to
some extent on what we
know about the climate of
Palestine today, which,
scholars believe, is not very
different from what it was
during the time of Jesus.
The annual mean tem-
perature is a pleasant
enough 62.8 degrees Fah-
renheit, with a range from
a high of 112 degrees to a
low in winter of only 12
degrees.
While the lowland plains,
nearer the Mediterranean
Sea, receive heavy rains
from November to April,
winter in the hills can bring
biting frost, bitter winds
and even snow.
Nazareth, the city of
Jesus, was a town of some
note in southern Galilee,
near the western edge of
the fertile plain of Esdra-
O
elon.
This area provides more
clues to the time of the
journey for scholars who
Iook to the still fertile and
well -watered hills of Galilee
and into the less favored
hill country of Judea, where
the cultivation of grains,
olives and vines tended to
give way to the grazing of
sheep, especially in the dry
season.
So it can also be assumed
that the holy journey was
during the dry season by
looking to the Bible in
which Saint Luke says
that in the same country
were shepherds looking
over their flocks,
Food Grade Standards
Federal food grade standards
apply to food exports, to impor-
ted foods also produced in
Canada, and to foods shipped
from one province to another,
Many Faiths Converge
On Modern Bethlehem,
Observe Christ's Birth
It is customary in the
United States to celebrate
the birth of Jesus on De-
cember 25th, the date ob-
served by the Roman Cath-
olic Church and most Prot-
estant denominations, but
not all Christian faiths ad-
here to that date.
In Bethlehem, Christ's
birthplace, the Roman cele-
bration begins on Christmas
Eve, December 24th, high-
lighted by the traditional
Midnight Mass, and contin-
ues on Christmas Day. The
Greek Orthodox Church,
however, observes January
Epiphany
second
Christmas
(by Pete Cudhea, Conestoga
Journalism student)
Christmas on December .35
is first known to have been
celebrated in Rome in the sec-
ond quarter of the forth cent-
ury, when it commemorated
the birth of Christ, there was
as yet no Epiphany. In the
eastern part of the empire a
festival on January 6 comm-
emorated the manifestation of
God in both the birth and bapt-
ists of Jesus, and there was as
yet no Christmas.
In the course of the fourth
century the celebration on Dec-
ember 25 was adopted in the
east (except in Jerusalem),
and became the day when the
birth was commemorated,
January 6 retaining its connec-
tion with the baptism.
In the west the process work-
ed out differently: Epiphany
became a kind of doublet of
Christmas, commemorating
the visit of the Magi to the
Infant Christ, the baptism
being relegated to a here
mention in the octave (the
eighth day after the feast),
•
.se RISTMAS REE11N€jS
'hese young carolers are bubbling with
happy Yuletide wishes for you ... from
us. Our merry thanks to all!
Hensall Motors Ltd.
Hensaii 262-2604
7 as Christmas Day, mark-
ing the occasion with simi-
lar ceremonies. January
18th andtl9th are the dates
for the observance in the
Armenian Church.
The three faiths have
their own churches and
chapels within the Basilica
of the Nativity in Bethlehem
and each observes Christ-
mas on its own day with
services in the Grotto of
the Nativity at the exact
'spot where, it is believed,
Jesus was born,
The separate observances
are bolstered by a long his-
tory which ecumenism may
find it difficult to erase. For
if(floed t 1/4/t/
;)-(4/ K 1ST
Tuckey Beverages
EXETER