The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-10-31
Curious Funeral Ceremonies in Athens.

Long before funeral procession comes
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
presence of which every head is uncover,
ed, and every hand makes the sign of the
cross. The corpse is exposed to full view
In an open coffin of light material, cover,
ed with white or black cloth, with silver
or gilt decorations, the cover of which.
marked with long diagonal cross, is car.
RED 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 pannel pic
ture of the Virgin set up on the breast.
Ii 1T is female, the cheeks and lips are
painted vermilion, intended to reproduce
natural expression, but which gives to
the corpse an artificial and CHASTITY look
Even to one accustomed to witness the
exposure Of the dead in Oriental coun
tries, there is something painful in the
idea OF exhibiting to the glare of day, and
amidst the whirl and inscnsibilty of the
public street, the features of deceased
person who in life may have been known
only to the little group of mourners gath
cred about the remains. At Greek
funerals the hearse is not generally EN-
ployed, and the light open casket is borne
by the hands of the nearest friends of
the deceased, while the other mourners
walk, not march, in group around it
Thus they literally carry aud 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 touch
ing to behold. a single priest, perhaps
performs the chant, and half dozen
mourners, representing the little house
hold, bear between them the coffin, which
is composed of the cheapest material, and
covered with white muslin. When per-
son OF distinguished position dies, the flu.
neral procession becomes an imposing
spectacle, with bishop and priests in their
gorgeous sacradotal robes, numerous light
ed candles, and martial music. [ once
saw the body of venerable bishop of
the Greek Church carried in procession
seated in his bishops chair, elevated
above the people, and was clothed in his
canonical robes with miter on head and
crosier uplifted 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 bobbiDg up aud
down, as if the dead mans pale and rigid
features were saluting, for the last time,
the people among whom he had exercised
his holy Office for over threescore years
In this position be was placed in his
grave, a peculiar honor accorded to his
ecclesiastical rank The dead-chiehy
from climatic considerations-arc buried
within twenty four hours of their decease
This is very shocking to foreign ideas ;
but the custom has come to be complied
with within less time than the law re-
quires. Indeed the feeling is, that the
sooner the painful duty is over, and the
house freed from the distressing spectacle
of 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 a
death is conveyed in the printed invita-
tion to the funerals | have conversed
with gentleman at an evening party,
who appeared to be in the highest enjoy
ment OF physical health, and the day fol-
lowing witnessed his interment, he hav
ing expired in the mean time from apo
plexy. | had once business appoint
ment with near neighbor, and, on going
to fulfill it, met his dead body coming
down the steps. was sitting one even
ing at the bedside of distinguished
American Missionary, who was describ-
ing to me his peculiar malady, and the
next afternoon saw him laid in the Pro-
testant Cemetery. The modern Greek
may we'll exclaim with the ancient
Greek -
f'Who knows what fortunes on tomorrow
wait,
Since Charms one day well TO us appeared,
And on the next was mourufully 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 10 the black, and even a
small streamer of Grape attached to the
key of the tobacco-b box Scribner's for
October