New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-03
GREECE.

GREECE.
ARRIVAL OF GREGORY VS. REMAINS-CELEBRA-
TON OF FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK
INDEPENDENCE - SUNDAYASCHo0L REVIVAL
IN TIE GREEK CHURCH.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ATHENS, April 29.-The mortal remains of
Gregory ", Greek Patriarch at Constannope, who was
summarly executed in 1921 by the nfriaed Janssaries
Of the ottoman Capital for the leading part he took in
the Greek Revolution and whose body, found in the
Bosphorus by some Greek fishermen and secretly con-
veyed by them to Odessa received honorable interment
at the hands of the Orthodox Russanshave lately been
presented by the Russian Government to the Greek
nation order that they might be transferred to Greece
and buried in the distinguished prelates native country
special Commission Of two Bishops and several lay
members was sent from here to Odessa to receive and
bring the remains of the first martyr TO Greek In
dependence the Chambers making a special grant for
the purpose Some difficulties raised by the Porte
regarding the passage Of these remains by CONSTANT
nope in coming through the BosphOrus and the whole
undertaking a very unwelcome one to the Turks
who did all they could to its being carried out
They felt exceeding annoyance at the anticipated popular
demonstration the reception OF the body in Greece,
as from the very nature Of the circumstances these
would be derogatOry TO Turkey. Any reminscence OF
that epoch is the Turk "Reminiscences OF defeat,
memento of his degradation, and the moral supe-
rioy of he nstinctivey hates and Is brought up
TO despise. certain not unfounded dread was felt,
moreover by the Ottoman government tnat tine PRES
of these remains at Constantinople might excite
the enthusiasm Greek population beyond the lin
its OF prudence, and lead perhaps to demonstrations
which their Mussulman feOw-ctzens would be sure 10
resent so that serious troubles might These diff
cutes were finally settled by abandoning the original
plan of sending an irOnclad man-ofwar with the Com
mission to Odessa which gave the Turkish Government
right by treaty to interfere and refuse it the perms
through the Dardanelles; and by strong
representations the part of Russia which at last led
to the agreement steamers belonging TO the Greek
Navigation Company should be sent, and that return
ing with the catafaque it should pass Constantinope
without stopping" The steamer and Commits
sion returned from Odessa the day before yes
terday, bringing the body of the martyred patriarch
which the Russian authorities at Odessa had declined
to them amid succession OF religious ceremonies which
lasted a week. The ceremonies will take place ON
the occasion of its reception here 1t is not to be landed
however, until the 9Th proxmo the fftieth anniversary
of Greek Independence The two events each enhancing
and giving greater significance to the other VIII be cee
brated together occasonng succession OF those pops
and ceremonies, political speeches. and popular demon
STATIONS which the Greeks are so PARTIAL Tie DOdy
of the patriarch is perfectly preserved owing doubtless,
to the emba inning processes used in Russia at the time of
the martyrs death. Until the ceremony 1t Will be eX-
posed the Of the cathedral where crowds Hook
10 gaze and PROSTATE themselves before it, The colin
was opened in the mausoleum at odessa The body is
clothed in rich patrarcha robes embroidered III gold and
precious stones the gift of Russian princess at the
time of its intermen in 1921 Even the expression of the
face is unchanged 1t is noble countenance striking
in its calm repOse and fully confirming the high idea OF
his character and genius conveyed by his writings his
life and his death mausoleum is to be built in the
vaults of ancient monastery in the outskirts of the
TOWN. where all Greek Bishops buried seated on
their episcopal thrones and dressed in full canonica
robes as the practice of the Greek Church, and there
the remains of the Patriarch Gregory " to be finally
deposited Greek merchant Of Alexandria has offered
large sum the erection Of statue of the patriarch
which is already process of execution by the Fetal
Brothers
The "Unon Of the Elders" Of which much has been
said of late and so much expected-an Association"
formed the purpose of establishing
and Scripture readings throughout Greece the model OF
those of America and England and of giving assistance
to superannuated priests their widows and orphans
is already threatened with untimey end. This AS
sociaon" to the formation of which the Bishop Attca
and Metropolitan Of Athens had given his SANCTION was
TO be formed here Of what is called the Secular Clergy
e. that is the married parochia priests and OF aymen
TO the exclusion Of all the unmarried OF monastc clergy
10 which belong all higher orders Of the Greek eccle
siastical hierarchy. No married priest, as 1t Is well
known can according to the Greek canon law, become
bishop Ecclesiastical preiermen and promotion are only
open to those who enter the monastc orders. C0nse
quenty all power and influence lie in their hands The
Association in question, from which all belonging 10
these orders gdy excluded by one Of its statutes
had YlcW BESIDE tIe
Scripture readings etc, the foundation OF strong
institution ready to afford assistance, refuge, and main
tenance to its clerical members the par0chal or secular
clergy in case Of need and then to render them indie
pendent Of their mOnastc brethren and superors, who
had hitherto exercised almost tyrannical power over
them The introduction of lay members, on the other
hand, permitted with the hope OF obtaining from
them the necessary funds for the support of the Assoca
tion in return for which these lay members might hope
obtain all the political support of the secular and pa
rochal clergy, which, In country where the influence
of the parish priest the people Is still very consider
able, must needs be great Thus the neyerfaing pot
zeal intrigue of the Greek had finger in this pie
where the primary object seemed TO be worthy
and beneficial 1t far removed from all political
and party interests.
The exclusion Of the allpowerfu mOnastic orders set
them strongly against the Union" While the admis
sion Of aymen, under peculiar conditions alarmed the
politicians by the dread of center OF political In
uence from which they were excluded and the govern
ing classes by the idea OF h0tbed Of political IN
tre, which by its very nature would be beyond their
control the expression "among the free and ensldred
Hellenic races, the very ttepage lof the Unions"
statutes frightened Turkey with the prospect OF new
sort,o politicoreigious propaganda among her Chris
tian subjects; while Russia did not like tho idea
OF religious publications and religious instruction.
over which the high and canOnical clergy wound
have little control Such being 1.-The case, and the
projected Association thaving rendered all these
powerful elements ufavorably disposed toward It, no
who knows anything about Greece will be astoDshed
that the experiment failed TO succeed. The Metro