Post #2 from inside the Holy Sepulcher

It's 5 til 2 in the morning and we just finished praying the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer with the Franciscan Community. A solid hour of organ-accompanied Latin chant rang throughout Basiica. Just before we started the Orthodox priests went throughout the entire Church blessing every chapel, nook, cranny, icon, and candle with incense - three times! Then at the end of Latin Office, the Catholic priests blessed the Holy Sepulcher with incense.

Now the Greeks are chanting their midnight office. It sounds like a cross between Latin Chant and the Arabic (Muslim) call to prayer we hear broadcast all over the City 5 times each day from multiple mosques and minerets simultaneously. It seems that the turn about/fair play principle would dictate that these night prayers should be chanted on loudspeakers throughout the Muslim Quarter :)

After three hours of absolute quiet throughout the Basilica, it really came to life again when the bells rang at midnight and all the incensin and chanting started. I understand that it will now continue through the night.
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