Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-10-31
Curious Funeral Ceremonies in Athens.

Lone before funeral procession comes
IN sight, the ear catches the low, monoton.
! Gus chant of the priests, who are preceded
by boys IN white robes bearing the cruCitix
ami ecclesiastical insignia, in the presence
OF which every head is uncovered ami
every hand makes the sign of the cross.
The corpse is exposed TO full view in an
open coffin of light material, covered
with white or black cloth, with silver or
gilt decorations, the cover Of which,
marked with a long diagonal cross, is
carried before the procession, The body
is dressed in the customary clothes of the
deceased, the head slightly elevated, and
the hands folded in front of panel pic.
ture ot the Virgin set up on the breast
II II is female the checks and lips are
painted Vermihon, intended to reproduce
natural expression, but which gives to
the corpse an artificial and ghastly look.
Even toone accustomed to witness the ex.
posure of the dead in Oriental countries.
there is something painful in the idea of
exhibiting to the glare of day, and amidst
the whirl and inSenSihility of the public
street, the features Of a deceased person
who in life may have been known only to
the little group OF muurnors gathered
about the remains. At Greek funerals
the hearse is not generally employed, and
the light open Casket is borne by the
hands of the nearest friends Of the de.
ceased, while the other mouruurS walk, not
march, In a group around it Thus they
literally carry and accompany, rather
than follow, their friend to the grave, and
gaze upon the face which was dear to
them up to the moment when he is laid
in his last resting place The funerals
of the poor are even more touching
to behold. \ single priest, perhaps,
performs the chant and half u
dozen mournors, representing the little
household, bear between them the coffin
which ia composed of the cheapest ma
terial, and covered with white muslin.
When a person of distinguished position
dies, the funeral procession becomes an
imposing spectacle, with the bishop and
priests in their gorgeous sacefdutal roles,
numerous lighted candles, and martha,
music. ! once saw the body OF veneer.
able bishop of the Greek Church carried
in procession through the streets of
Athens He was seated In his bishops
chair, elevated above the people, and was
clothed in his canonical robes with inter
on head and the crosicr uplifttd In his
hand A cloth around the forehead
bound II TO the back of the chair, but not
sufficiently close to prevent the head from
bobbing up and down, as if the dead
mans pale and rigid features were salut.
ing, for the last time, the people among
whom he had exercised his holy office for
over thrCcsCore years. In this position
he was placed in the grave peculiar
honor accorded to his ecclesiastical rank.
The dcad-chtcily from climatic con.
siderations--are buried within twenty.
four hours of their doCchse. This IS very
shocking to foreign ideas, but the custom
has come TO be complied with within less
time than the law requires Indeed the
feeling is, that the sooner the painful
duty is over, and the house freed
from the distressing spectacle of a
corpse, the sooner will the minds of the
mourners be relieved from association with
what is repulsive, and return TO the in
ward contemplation Of their friend AS
they knew him in life, Thus ii often
happens that the first intimation Of
death Is conveyed in the printed invita-
ton 10 the funeral have converscd
with gentleman at nm evening party,
who appeared to be in the highest enjoy.
mcn' Of physical health, and the day fol-
lowi messed his ntermcnt, he hay
ing ext | in the meantime from apo.
plexy had once q business appoint,
ment with near neighbor, and, on going
to fulfill it, met his dead body coming
down the door.steps. was sitting one
evening at the bedside Of distinguished
American Missionary, who was describ-
ing 10 me his peculiar malady, and the
next afternoon ] saw him laid in the
Protestant Cemetery, The modern Greek
may well exclaim with the ancient
Greek 49,
% Who kuuws what fortunes on 10 morrow wait
Since Charms one day vcll To NJ appeared,
And on tn" next ~as mourGfuliy lutcrod|'
II is the custom, after the deceasc OF
the occupant, to drapc the interior of the
house with mourning. have seen every
article Of furniture, from piano to foot.
stool, drapcd in black, and even small
ttfeamcr of Grape attached to the key Of
the tobacco box FTom "NodcrH AHfaS,n
5g NhaSta h. 7neheyman, in hcrtbn7's far
OeiDbcr,