Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-04-24
Easter Eve in Moscow.

On Easter Eve Moscow becomes
quiet very early. By nine o'clock the
streets are empty, and there is hardly
an isrostchick to be had at double the
usual price. The night is perfectly
dark, and few lights are seen in the
windows, HIS we start out about half
past eleven for the Krcmlin. In the
great square between the cathedrals
we find mass of people silently wait
ing. Inside the churches, which are
also full, prayer or two is said, and
then all is still. We ascend the tower
of Ivan Veliki to get better view of
the scene, cropping our way up the
winding staircase. A few minutes
more and the clock strikes twelve
A violent trembling of the tower tells
us tba. the great bell is struck, though
we hear no sound. Instantly every
boil of the four hundred churches Of
Moscow begins to ring joyfully and
rapidly hundred cannon boom out
from the Tainitzky tower. As if by
magic every spire and dome is illumi-
mated, a circle Of lights is seen about
every church, and the lines of light
along every street make Moscow in a
blaze. At the same moment a pro-
cession of clergy and torch. bearers in
their most brilliant gold and silver
robes, with choirs, incense, and ban
ners, make the circuit of every church,
walking over branches of evergreen
that have been strewn in the way,
and singing the Easter hymn:
.."Christ is arisen, is arisen from the dead"
The square of the Kremlin is now as
light as day, and we see the Metro
politan,-a hearty, bale old man, long
time missionary bishop in Siberia
and Alaska,-in his magnificent robes,
with his bearers, his cross of
crystal, and incense and candles as he
goes about the Cathedral of the As
sumption At the nearest churches
we can distinctly see the professions,
but in the distance they seem merely
train of gIimmering sparks. We
descend again to the square, and every
one rushcs into the church TO light his
candle and kisses hisneighbor three
times, ,saying ChriStos voShreS-Christ is
arisen to which the reply is returned,
70! iStine roskres = He is arisen in
deed. In the Cathedral there is now
no service but mathis, the Grand Mass
being ut seven in the morning, so we
kas,o,, th,n,,<l ,Lo ;il,,o;rntoI .t,oatn
to somo otner cnurcn where MASS VIII
follow the mathis Immediately. Small
carthen dishes containing lighted
wick floating in melted tallow are
placed on each of the low posts which
are the detestable substitutes for curb
stones in the Moscow streets, so that
the shadows are all cast upwards, pro-
ducing singular but beautiful effect.
The smoke and smell are disagrceable.
The churches are full, and around
them are servants with dishes of eggs
and other eatables peculiar to Easter,
waiting to have them blessed. The
bells are everywhere ringing violently
and joyfully, and the farther we get
from tho Kremlin, the louder are the
tones Of the Assumption" or great
bell. 1t was curious that when we
stood in the Kremlin square and saw
,the bell strike, VIC did not hear separ-
ate divided strokes. There was
low, deep, united sound, not at all dis
agreeable, which seemed to servo as
background for all the other BELLS
This bells weighs sixty-four tons, and
is the largest in the world.
The most fashionable churches on
great occasions are the University,
the private chapels, and those belong
ing to the Palace and to the public
institution. We go 10 the Widows
Home, which is just now tho rcnde.
vous of the most select aristocracy
The mathis have already begun, and
the saloons-for the chapel is small,
and fow are there beside the widows
are full of ladies and gentlemen in
full evening dress, all holding candles,
while the priest and deacon make a
tour of all the rooms, exclaimed Chris.
tos rokresen, to which the congrega.
tion reply. Every time they come
from the sanctuary they have on new
robes of different color, and the
choir.boys sing continually the Easter
Hymn. When the mathis are over
thc candles are blown out, and handed
to tho boy who comes to receive thcm
on II silver salver, and every one
kisses and congratulates his family
and friends. There is but brief in.
Permission aud the muss cunnlcuccs,
though the crowds in the saloons con.
tinuc laughing and talking as if they
were at rout. We stay till we have
congratulated oil our acquaintances,
and then go to the private chapel Of
one Of the richer mobiles. s.-,Scrijner's
Monthly.