The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-04-12
The Greek and Roman Churches.

The Greek and Roman Churches.
The points of difference between the
Greek and Roman Churches are tho fol-
lowing The Pope is the head of the
Roman Church but the Greek Church
rejects the papal authority, and is under
the rule of five Patriarchs Baptism is
performed in the Greek Church by i'm
mersing the body three times; in the
Roman Church by sprinklipg In the
Roman Church bishop alone can con.
firm; in the Greek Church any priest
can. The Roman sacrament is bread
only the Greek unleavcned bread and
wine mixed with water In the Greek
Church, confession is obligatory, but it
may be general, or special, Or auricular,
as the penitent chooses. Extreme unc-
tion is bestowed not only on the dying,
but when desired, on persons who are ill
to any extent. Prcdcsdinaton is not ad.
mitted, nor the transfer of fsuperabundant
merits from one sinner to another, nor
special indulgences for the dead or living.
Though this Church raises the Virgin
above angels, seraphim and Cherubim it
does not accord to her the same influence
in heaven as the Roman. 1t abouuds in
holy days, aud observes more fasts than
the Roman Church. In the Greek
Churches, no Instrumental music what
ever, but only choral singing is used and
no stools, chair or benches arc allowed.
Paintings are admitted, but no sculptures
of stone, metal or wood Such phinn-
thropic associations ns the Sisters of
Charity are unknown in the Greek
Church. Rcligiously, however, its creed
is not exclusive 1t 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 opin.
ion such intolerance, for example, as
that which, in the Roman Church, con.
demned Calico These are the leading
points of difference between the two
ancient Churches.
The following account of the Russian
mode of worship from Notes and Quer-
,es," will be found interesting at the
present time; Whenever Russian
passes a Church, his custom is 10 cross
himself, some do so three times accom-.
panying it with blowing. In every room
in their houses an image or picture, is
placed in tue east corner, before which
they uncover their heads and cross
themselves on entering Their churches
are filled with these, their representa-
tions of the Deity, and it is very curious
to observe very devout Russian kiss
lng the toe of one, crossing himself be-
fore another, while to another no will,
in addition, PROSTATE himself, even with
his head to the ground this latter is al-
so very frequently done at intervals du-
ring the celebration of the services but
their churches are always open, SO that
any one wants to pay devotion to a par,
ticular image (or picture), while no serv.
Ice Is going on, he can do So | under
stand that they consider they worship
tho Deity through these representations.
In the present day the gods are called
a6raae, of which the literal translation
is image The old Sclavonic word for
them is oehona, which was formerly in
general use. As far as l 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 l have read on Russia or its reli-
gon, and hope, if any correspondent is a.
bic to give us further information on the
subject. ho will do So The Russians
also believe in relics, in their efficacy in
healing diseases, working other miracles,
etc. Notwithstanding this, very short
time ago. new relic was found in the
south of Russia, and courier was i'm.
mediately dispatched with it to the En-
peror of st. Petersburg. On his arrival,
his Imperial Majesty, expecting some
important news regarding his operations
in the neighborhood of Turkey, when
told his errand exclaimed, Away with
the relic it is high time to put an end
to such nonsense p Would that this
were to be carried out But their su.
perstitions seem to deeply rooted to be
done away with in short time"