Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-09
.Haitu Nenufbtt gournd.
8asfRR EVE IN MOSCOW.


u On Easter Eve Moscow becomes que
very early. BY nine o'clock the s!Ieess
are empsy, and there is hardly an nv" H;oS
teaM to be had at double the usual pllIe
The night is perfectly dark, ana Few nSn'.
are seen in the windows. as we slart uu'
shout halEpast eleven Tor the h.eihill'.
w. find q mass of people silently waiting.
inside the churches, which are also full,
: prayer or two is said, and then all is still.
We ascend the tower of Ivan Voliki 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
that the great bell is struck, though we
hear no sound. Instantly every bell OF
the four hundred churches of Moscow be-
gins to ring joyfully and rapidly hum
dred cannons boom out from the Ialnltz-
Ky tower. As if by magic every spire and
dome is illuminated, a circle of lights is
seen about every church, and the lines OF
light along every street make Moscow IN
blaze. At the same moment process
sion of clergy and torch-bearers in their
most brilliant gold and silver robes, with
choirs. incense and banners, make the cir
cult of every church, walking over
branches OF evergreen that have been
strewn in the way, and singing the Easter
hymn:
"Christ is risen, is risen from the dead"
The square of the kremlin is now as
light Is day, and we see the metropolitan,
. hale, hearty old man, long time mis-
sionary bishop in Siberia and Alaska, IN
his magnificent robes, with his train-bear-
ers, his cross of crystal, and incense and
candles, as he goes about the Cathedral OF
Assumption. At the nearest churches we
can also distinctly see the procession, but
in the distance they seem merely a train
Of glimmering sparks. We descend again
to The square, and every one rushes into
the church to light his candle, and kisses
his neighboS three times, saying C,sstos
voskres-C Christ is risen; to which the re-
ply Is returned, Vo istine Voskres-He is
risen indeed In the Cathedral there is
now no service but mathis, the Grand
Mass being at seven in the morning, SO
we hastene through the illuminated
streets to some other church where Mass
viii follow the mathis Immediately.
Small earthen dishes containing light
ed wick floating in the melted tallow are
placed on each of the low posts which are
the detestable substitutes for curb-stones
IN the Moscow styeets. SO that the shadows
are all cast upwards, producing singlar
but beautiful effect. The smoke and smell
are disagreeable. The churches are full,
and all around them are servants with
dishes Of eggs and other eatables peculiar
to Easter, waiting to have them blessed.
Tie bell are everywhere ringing violently
and joyfu)ly, and the further we get from
The Kremlin, the louder are the tones Of
the Consumption" or great bell. 1t was
curious that when we stood in the kremlin
square and saw the bell struck, we did
not hear separate divided strokes. There
was low, deep, united sound, not at all
disagreeable, which seemed to serve as d
back ground for al the other bells. This
bell weighs sixty-four tons, aad is the
largest in the world.
The most fashionable churches on great
occasions are the University, the private
chapels, and those belonging to the Palace
and to theSpublic institutions. We go tt
the Widows Home, which is just now the
rendezvous of the most select aristocracy
The mathis have already begun. and the
Sn1OOuc-IOF Tie cudpci IL oiHdils anu iCN
arc there besides the widows-are full o
ladies and gentlemen in full evening dress
all holding candles, while the priest ant
deacon make a tour of all the rooms, ex
claiming Christos roskresen, to which thu
congregation reply. Every time the.
come from the sanctuary, they have OF
new robes of different color, and til,
choir boys sing continually the Easter
Hymn. When the maths are over, thu
candles are blown out, and handed to thu
boys who come to receive them on silve
salver, and every one kisses and congrat
plates bis family and friends. There i
but . brief intermission and the mass com
mences, though the crowds in the saloon
continue laughing and talking as if the,
were at . rout. We stay here till we hav
congratulated all our acquaintances, an
then 60 to the private chapel of one of tn
richer nobles.--Eugene Schuyler,
+. Scsioners for April.