The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-05-17
The Greek and Roman Churches.

The points Of difference between the Greek
and Roman Churches are the fOllowins.-
The Pope is the head Of the Roman church !;
but the Greek church rejects the papa au.
thority, and is under the rule Of Eve pafri-
archs. Baptism is performed in the Greek
church by immcrsing the body three times !;
in the Roman. church by sprinkling In the
Roman church bishop can confirm; in the
Greek church any priest can. The Roman
sacrament is bread only the Greek unleav-
ened bread and wine mixed with water. In
the Greek church confession is obligatory,
but il may be general. OF special. or auricular
as the penitent chooses. Extreme JUNCTION il
bestowed only on the dying but when desired
on persons who are III to any extent. Pre-
destination is not admitted, nor the transfer
Of superabundant merits from one sinner to
another, nor special induigences for the dead
or living.
Though this church raises the Virgin above
angels. scraphim and cherubim. it does not
accord to her the same influence in heaven as
the Roman. Il abounds in holy days. and
observes more fcasts than the Roman church
In the Greek churches. no instrumental mu-
sic whatever. but only choral singing is used,
and no stools, chairs or benches arc allowed
Paintings arc admitted. but no sculptures Of
stone, metal OF wood Such phianthropic
associations as the Sisters Of Charity are un.
known in the Greek church Reigously,
however, its creed is not exclusive II holds
that all who have been baptized in the name
of Christ will be saved and its history is
stained by no intolerance OF novel scientific
opinions: such intolerance, for example, as
condemhed Calico These are the leading
points Of difference between the two ancient
churches.-The following account Of the Rus
sian mode Of worship, from Notes and Que
ries, !" will be found interesting at the present
time Whenever Russian passes a church,
his custom is TO cross himself. some do so
three times, accompanying it with bowling.
In every room in their houses an image
or picture is placed in the east corner, before
which they uncover their heads and cross
themselves on entering Their churches are
filed with these their representations Of the
Deity,-and it is very curious to observe a
very devout Russian kissing the toes of one,
crossing himself before another, while to an
other he will. in addition. PROSTATE himself.
even with his head to the ground this latter
is also very frequently done at intervals dur
ing the celebration Of the services but their
churches are always open. so that If any one
wants to pay devotion to particular image,
(or picture) while no service is going on, he
can do SO. understand that they consider
they worship the Deity through these repre-
senfafionq In the nrpsant dav the rods arc
called abrdas. of which the literal translation
is image. The old Sclavonc word for them
is eekona. which was formerly in general
use.
"As for as | can make out, neither Of these
words can be translated picture, ; but do
not remember to have found this point touched
upon in any book | have read on Russia or
its religion and hope. if any correspondent
is able to give us farther information upon the
subject, he will do so. The Russians als)
believe in relics, their efficacy in healing dis
cases. working other miracles, etc. Notwith-
standing this. very short time ago, new
relic was found in the south o. Russia. and a
courier was Immediately dispatched with it TO
the Emperor, at st. Petersburg. On his ar
rival, his Imperial Majesty. expecting some
important news regarding his operations in
the neighborhood of Turkey, when told Of his
errand, exclaimed, Away with tho relic it
is high time to put an end to such nonsense y
Would that this were carried out /! But their
superstitions seem too deeply rooted to be
done away with in a short time. ~. \.
Times.