At 9:00 pm each night there is a solemn ceremony for the locking of the doors to the Basilica. The same Muslim family has been responsible for maintaining the key for many generations. The keyholder climbs a small ladder outside and locks the door and then passes the ladder inside thru a slot in the door. It is leaned against the door until tomorrow morning when it will be passed out to him again.
There are about 20 of us locked in tonight. There are two small pilgrimage groups - one made up of Franciscans (mostly sisters) and a small group from Poland. There are a few other individuals and then us - the 3 Dominican fathers. From now until midnight, we have free reign of the whole Basilica. At midnight we will not be able to go near the Sepulcher because the Greek Orthodox monks are in charge of it then and they will have their overnight offices there. At 4 the Armenians take over and will be praying there. So, liturgy goes on around the clock. It is very quiet right now (we were given very specific instructions that we cannot sing during the night.) Apparently the Greeks did not get that memo as they will be singing from midnight until 4. :)
I am going to spend some time in prayer and then try to take a little nap later on. From inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
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