The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-11-26
RUSSIAN MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

"Ivan lvanovltch and Prascovia Constax
tlnovna lvanhoff humbly request the favor
OF your attendance to the marriage ceremo-
ny OF their daughter Anna Ivanowna with
Nicholal Demetrivich Borissow, and to the
dinner table, this November the 18th day.
IN the year 1877, at two o'clock in the after
noon."
On the embossed border of the card deli
cately edged with rose color, the emblem
attic figure of Hymen was represented on
the one side standing under palm tree,
between the sleeping dogs of fidelity, and
inviting from the other side the figures of
the bride and the bridegroom. | learned
that the parties were wealthy Russian hemp
commission agents, and most excellent peo-
pie and as such an invitation promised to
afford me an opportunity of witnessing the
church marriage ceremony, of which had
read so many dissimilar accounts, | gladly
accepted it.
At two the friends assembled from all
quarters in the winter church the Annun-
citation, in the Vassileiorow where great
concourse of people had already collected
round the choristers or chanters, who, in
the most delightful manner Imaginable, and
in the fuga style, were singing hymns, mix
and bass voices.
The officiating priest, decked in his rich
| church vestments, accompanied by the dea-
con, advanced from the sanctuary towards
the door of entrance into the church, and
there received the pair about to be made
happy, to whom he delivered lighted ia
per, making at the same time, the sign of
the cross thrice on their foreheads, and con-
Quoted them to the upper part of the nave.
Incense was scattered before them, while
maids, splendidly attired, walked between
the paranymphy, or bridegroom and bride
The Greek church requires not the pre-
sence of either of the parents of the bride
on such an occasion. Is it TO spare them
the pain of voluntarily surrendering their
child to one who is "A stranger to her blood
| stood by the side of the table on which
were deposited the rings, and before which
the priest halted at the conclusion of lita-
ny, wherein choristers assisted, and from
which he pronounced, in Il loud and impress
siVe voice, the following prayer, his face be-
ing turned towards the sanctuary, and the
bride and bridegroom placed Immediately
behind him, holding their lighted tapers:-
20, Eternal Got,-tbou who didst collect
together the scattered atoms by wonderous
UNION and didst Join them by an indssoluhle
tie, who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, and
made them heirs of thy pro'lise; Civ. thy
, blessing unto these thy servants, and guide
them in every good work. For thou arr
, the merciful God, the lover of mankind, AM
/ to thee we offer up our praise now and fol
J ever, even unto ages of ages"
The priest next turning round to the cou
pie, blessed them, and taking the ring.
t from the table, gave one to each, beginning
with the man, and proclaimed aloud tina
they stood betrothed, "now and for ever
even unto ages of ages" which declaration
f he repeated thrice to them, while they mu
tually exchanged the ring an equal humble
of times. The rings were now again sur
. rendered to the priest who crossed tn,
: forehead of the couple with them, and pu
1 them on the fore-inger of the right hand o
0 each and turning to the sanctuary, rea,
!, another impressive part Of the service, il
e which an alluson is made to all the cir
cumstances in the Holy Testament wher
ring is mentioned as the pledge of union
; honor and power. and prayed the Lord L
3 "bless the espousdls Of thy servants, ANN
Iyanowna and Nicholai Demetrivich, an,
n confirm them in the holy union; for tho
- in the beginning, didst create them NAL
l. and female, and appoint the woman for hel
e to the man, and for the succession of man
Il kind. Go thou, 0 Lord our God, who nat
II set forth thy truth upon thine inheritance
), and thy promise upon thy servants our faith
ers, whom thou hast chosen from genera
y ton to generation, upon this servant, ant