ABSTRACT
The first half of the nineteenth century witnessed the steady growth of the Greek influence. It was due mainly to the enthusiasm of Russian pilgrims and to the gold disbursed by Orthodox believers throughout Europe. In 1808, the church of the Holy Sepulchre was burnt. The patriarch of Jerusalem rebuilt it in a few years by the aid of subscriptions from Orthodox Christians in all lands. The Holy Places were objects of sentiment rather than of devotion in France, and a pilgrimage was a mode rather than a passion. Interest in the Holy Places had waned. The dispute as to the Holy Places was likely to be settled by the iron arguments of France. But a fatal blunder on the part of Russia contributed to turn the French screw. Early in December M. Ozerov took a step calculated in a high degree to raise suspicions against Russia.
