Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-08-22
A Russian Burial Service.

A Russian Burial Service.
In Russia every phase Of social life has
some REGULARITY which attracts more or
less the attention Of the foreigner: and
not the least among these pcCuIiaritics
arc the rights and ceremonies connected
with the interment Of the dead. The
following account of these ceremonies Is
given 10y correspondent Of the London
Telegraph:
A few days since took an opportunity
of paying visit To the Smocnski one Of
the great cemeteries in the neighborhood
OF st. Petersburg Long before arrived
at the cemetery | was concious Of its
proximity by the appearance Of many
shops exhibiting tomb--toncs and wooden
crosses for the graves; and also by the
spectacle, in the open streets, OF immense
varieties of wreaths and garlands, orna-
mented, some with paper roses, others
with never fades" or some other flower
Of funeral signitication. Hero aud there,
too, were rcfreshmcnt rooms for the &C
cummodatiOn of those who, after the
labOrs and cares of the iuterment, might
wish to fOrtily the body OF drown the
grief in the bottle On reaching the
cemetery, the attention is first OF all
directed to the church, where the custom
AIRY funeral rites are performed. Enter
ing, found myself in the lobby or ante
room Of good size, in one corner OF which,
behind a counter, sat a lugubrious,
shabhily-dress official, busily occu-
pied in the sale of candles, the
profits from which form a considerable
item in the revenue Of the church in
Russia. Usually, this business is con
Quoted in the church itself, On the other
side of this room We're standing the lids
of collins, in row against the wall, A
few steps farther brought me TO the body
Of the church. where the service was GO
ing on. 1t is the custom here 10 perform
Que funeral service in the morning over
the bodies Of all who are brought for in
terment on that day. The scene that here
meets a visitor is in the highest degree
curious and interesting. There is first of
all the church itself the whole eastern
side Of which Is ( ittering with gold and
silver, and ornamcnted with the pictures
of saints, before which feeble lamps shed
forth the dlmmest OF lights There are
the priests and dcacons, arraycd in what
should be the gorgeous and brilliant robes
Of Russian eCclcsiastics; but in this place
of tratic-the cemetery-tbc costumes are
passed on from one weafcr 10 another un-
til almost every vestige of their pristine
splcndor has vanished. In one corner Of
the altar stands the choir, consisting Of
two demonstrating creatures, engaged
in pouring forth a lamen>able howl,
called a requiem for the deceased, in tones
so doeful, 50 inharmOnious, and in q
manner 50 careless and uncOncened, rs
to excite astOnIshmcnt that such fright
full mockery can possibly be tolerated
The cOrpses were arranged in TWO rows;
the bodies Of the adult dead -~uf which
there were siX--pIaced in front and near
the altar, while the collins OF nine Little
children, Of ages varying from one year
10 six or seven formed another row be
hind. The collins were open, and thc
upper part Of the body WAS exposed,
while from the breast downwmds, the
whole was covered by pals, for the most
part Of dark yellow color, The hands
were crossed on the breast, and on those
Of the adults were laid large sheets OF
paper containing q prayer in the Scla 1
ronian language, the purpOrt Of which /
was to speed the soul on It's Journey To (
heaven. 1t sometimes appears to b. the /
custom 10 place this prayer under the
mead OF the deceased. u was comp H"
uycIy pleasant to turn from INC qarN, /
sallow, and drawn coVntenance8 Of me /
adults TO the peaceful ana happy iace1 %
the little children. many 0i "hom NO !
the appearance OF being N a 49Ict' S"ee' /
slumber, their heads enyeiopca IN cars /
decked with gay ribbons ana Towers &ha /
the whole body Iaid out win me RdnIe, |
Instead OF the prayer for remission 81
sins which was placed on the Dfea' : OF |
the gro%n-up persons, 'hese nue. Ia'i. |