The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-11-05
Curious Funeral Ceremonies In Athens.

LoNG before funeral procession come
in sight, the ear catches the low, mono-
tonous chant Of the priests, who are pre-
ceded by boys in white robes bearing
the crucifix and ecclesiastical insignia,
in the presence of which every head is
uncovered and every head makes the sign
OF the cross. The corpse is exposed to
full view in an open coffin of light mateii-
al, 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 picture Of the Virgin set up
on the breast. it is a female. the
cheeks and lips are painted vermilion in
tended to reproduce natural expression
but which gives to the corpse an artifci.
al and ghastly look. Even to one accus-
toned to witness the exposure of the
dead in Oriental countries, there is some-
thing painful in the idea of exhibition to
the glare of day. and amidst the whr
and insensibility of the public street,
the failures of deceased person who in
life may have been known only to the
little group of mourners gatherd about
the remains. AT Greek founerals the
hearsc 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 mourners walk.
not march, in group around it. Thus
they literally carry and accompany, rather
than follow, their friends 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 A single priest, perhaps pre-
forms the chant, and half dozen mour.
ners, representing the little household,
bar between them the coffin which is
composed of the cheapest material, and
cavered with white muslin. When
person of distinguished position dies, the
funeral, procession becomes an imposing
spectacle, with the bishop and priests in
their gorgeous sacerdotal robes, numerous
lighted candles, and martial music.
once saw the body of venerable bishop
OF the Greek Church carried in process
sion 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 coricr upilted in his hand. A cloth
around, the forehead bound it to the
back Of the chair, but not sufficiently
close to prevent the head from bobbing
up and down, as ii the dead mans pale
and ri!il failures were saluting, for the
last ilni the people amoung whom he
had exercised his holy Office for over
threscorc years. La this position he was
placed in the grave, peculiar honor
accorded to his ecclesiastical rank, The
dead-chiehy from climatic considcra-
tions-aro buried within twenty-four
hours of their decease. This is very
shocking to foreign IDEAS but the Gus.
tom has come to be complied with with
in 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
inward contemplation of their friend as
they knew him in life. Thus it often
happens that the first intimation of death
is conveyed in the printed invitation to
the funeral. | have conversed with
gentleman at an evening party, who ap-
peared to be in the highest enjoyment of
physical health, and the day following
witnessed his interment. he having ex-
pired in the meantime from apoplexy. |
had once a business appointment with
near ueighbor, and, on going to fulfil it,
met his dead body coming down the door
steps. | was sitting one evening at the
bedside of a distinguished American Mis-
sionary, who was describing to me his
peculiar malady, and the next afternoon
| saw him laid in the Protestant Gene
terry. The modern Greek may well ex.
claim with the ancient Greek
"who knows what fortunes on tomorrow wait,
Since Charms one day well to us appeared
And on the next was mournfully inferred"
1t is the custom, after the decease of
the occupant, to drape the interior of the
house with mourning. | have seen every
article of furniture, from piano to foot
stool, draped in black, and even small
streamer of Grape attached to the key of
the tobacco-box From " "lIodern A.
Mens," Jy Chas. X. K.Tuckerman,m Scrib-
ner's for October.