The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-19 00:00:00

One of the most gorgeous religious ceremonials ever
witnessed in Liverlool, even in film 'days of Ritualist
magnificence, took place on Sunday, in the consecration
of the New Greek Church. The occasion was one of great
oezclesiastical interest from its novelty and large numbers
were present to witness the ceremony. The members of
the church itself are not very numerous, the 600 sittings
which the new edifice contains being amply sufEcient for
the whole Greek community in the city. But though
comparatively small in numbers it is wealthy and
commercially important. Hitherto they have had
no public place of worship but assembled in
a house in Landon-terrace, and so far back as
1865 they discussed the erection of the building
which on Sunday was consecrated by Archbishop Lycur-
gus, of. Syra and Tenos. It has been built on a
triangular piece of land, placed, as usual, directly east and
west, and is constructed of red brick and light stone, and the
styleof architectureis Byzantine. The walls are inalternate
bands of brick and stone ; the central dome of the church
covered with lead surmounted by a gilt cross, rises from
the intersection of the nave and transept roofs, and fcrn3s
a Greek cross. • The plan and general arrangements
of the building are based upon those of.
the Church of the Saint Theotokos at Constantinople,
which was erected in the fifth century. It is a
very handsome building, and has cost about £14,000.
There are eight magnificent marble columns in Sicilian
white-veined marble, their whole height with plinth and
capital being 22 feet 6 inches. These are a gift of G.
Papayanni, Esq., a Greek merchant, who has been
one of the principal subscribers to the church.
The peculiar accessories required by the Greek
service, the altar, or agia trapeza, the holy screen, the
throne, stalls, &c., have all been carefully provided and
are very beautiful, the throne in particular is almost regal
in its character.

Archbishop Lycurgus, who performed the ceremony of
consecration, is one of the profoundest scholars and one of
the most eloquent orators of his Church. The services
began, in fact, on Saturday evening, when high vespers
• were sung in the presence of the Archbishop, who
deposited certain relics at the altar. Lighted candles were
placed on the holy table, and a watcher remained
throughout the night. On Sunday morning the
church was crowded at a very early how, and was
brilliantly lighted. The Archbishop and suite arrived at nine
o'clock, and were received with the chanting of the Greek
national anthem and doxology. He was first arrayed in
his ordinary episcopal robes of claret-coloured and white
milk embroidered with gold, with the hat usually worn by
Greek priests, and the deep black veil at the back.
Having assumed his -staff of office, he ascended

the throne, and commenced the service by singing prayers,
a,mengst them the Te Deuni. The deacons who had
been standing near him, then turned towards the screen
which separates the sanctuary from the body of the
ehurch, and called in a loud voice, " Priests come forth."
The priests who were in the sanctuary came forth, each
bearing a silver plate, with some article of wearing apparel
belonging to the grand episcopal robes. The Archbishop
descended from the throne and having been divested of his
ordinary robes, was arrayed in the full insignia of office
The mantle is of white satin, interwoven with gold, and
adorned with figures of the Saviour, the Virgin, and
the Evangelists. The robe was fastened with
a jewelled cross, with a resplendent ruby. The
Archbishop's mitre was the most brilliant object
being in fact a gorgeously jewelled crown. Its form was
circular, like the mitre worn by Jewish priests. and it was
composed of maroon velvet, fitted to the head by a band
of gold. Elaborate designs wrought in gold started from
its base, each being surmounted by a large pearl. Above these
came diamonds, emeralds, and other ornaments, the whole
being surmounted by a cross several inches high,
omposed of splendid diamonds. The dresses of the arcbi-
mandrites were composed of some glittering material em-
broidered with bright-coloured flowers. Those of the
deacons were plainer, but still handsome. Leaving the
o44aix in which he had been arrayed, the Archbishop
preceded to the sanctuary and took the relics he had left
there the previous evening. A procession was formed,
headed by the choir and the priests. After the ecclesiastics
came the Greek Minister of State, the consuls and others
bearing lighted candles of immense size, each
having three distinct wicks. This part of the
affair had its ludicrous aspect, as the wind
blew the candles about, and the tallow streamed
down the evening costume of their bearers. They marched
out of the church and proceeded round the building,prayeis
being read, and s everal parts of the Gospel. This cere-
mony was three times repeated, after which the Archbishop
in a loud voice, said, in the Greek language, "Lift up
Tour heads, oh ye gates, and be lift up ye everlasting
doors, and the King of Glory shall come in." At this
period of the service the church was supposed to be empty
with the exception of one priest, who from within replied,
" Who is this King of Glory?" The archbishop answered,
" The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
He is the King of Glory." These questions having been
three times put and answered, the archbishop, with the
holy relics, made the sign of the cross upon the middle
doors or sates, and then the doors of the church were
opened, and the procession entered, the choir and congre-
gation singing a hymn. This concluded the consecration of
the exterior, and the rites for consecrating the interior were
then proceeded with. Prayers and processions took place,
and the archbishop placed on the holy table four pieces of
aromatic soap in the form of a cross. Warm water was
brought, and blessed, after which his grace poured it on
the table in the form of three crosses, and washed the
table, which was then sprinkled with orange flower water.
This is in remembrance of the spices and ointments used
at Jerusalem by the holy women. Red wine was next
poured on and wiped off with small pieces of linen.
These are carefully preserved, and will be taken by the
Archbishop to Constantinople to receive printed impres-
sions, after which they become sacred. Other cere-
monies of a similar kind were observed, the
Archbishop anointing the columns already spoken of
with sacred ointment. The lamp over the altar was
then lighted, which must not expire so long as the Church
lasts, and the act of consecration was declared to be duly
performed. The Archbishop pronounced the benediction
from the altar, the choir singing the while. He
then , assisted in the Liturgy, and offered spe-
cial prayers. The office of consecrating a
Greek priest followed, and the ceremony, which
had occupied more than four hours, came to a close.
Some disappointment was felt that Archbishop Lycurgus
who is renowned for his oratory, did not preach a sermon,
but he refrained from doing so on account of the length of
the service. No instrumental music is allowed in the
Greek Church, but the singing was very beautiful, espe
daily the antiphonal responses. The Patriarch of Jerusa-
lem has expressed great interest in this cliurch, to whies
he has presented a beautiful cross.

It is stated by the Pall Mall Gazette that the
Government have determined to fill up the vacancy on
the Scotch bench. As yet, however, no appointment has
been made.

CRUELTY TO CATTLE.—A revolting • incident
occurred on board one of the Waterford steamers last
week. The captain had •allowed himself to run short of
fuel, and in order to keep his fires alight so as to reach
the English coast in time, he burned one hundred of
the pigs which formed part of the ship's cargo.
Such passengers as may have witnessed the holo-
caust, or heard (as they could hardly have failed to hear)
the wsetched animals' cries, must have thought
that punctuality in reaching their destination was rather
dearly purchased by this 'device of the captain's. To be
sure, they are not supposed to be squeamish now-a••
days, particularly after the experience they have
had on board the steam packets plying between
Rotterdam and Blackwall. Last autumn, it will be
remembered, an outspoken passenger by one of
these vessels caused quite a sensation by the simple
record of what he had witnessed during the few hours`
transit between these ports. It now appears that this
narrative, dreadful as it was, gave but an incomplete
account of the torments to which the cattle are sub;
jected on their way from Continental to English markets.
" Live stock," we are credibly informed, "has been used on
more than one occasion, as fuel in the cattle boats plying
between the Thames and Hamburg." The Yankee skipper
who burns bacon when out of coal is an ingenious humourist,
compared with his English counterpart, who roasts a hun-
dred pigs alive. Excuse for this latter atrocity in such
short services as those between the Dutch and English or
Irish and Welsh coasts there can be none. In fact, the
parsimony of the steam navigation companies will be
found to be at the bottom of all these instances of cruelty
to cattle-freights. The summary exactien of a severe
penalty, on the recurrence of every such act as that com-
mitted on board the Waterford steamer, would have an
effect in quarters where appeals to humanity are preferred
in vain.—Globe.