Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-26
&tadina fur the Sabbath,
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS IN RUSSIA.

! REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS IN RUSSIA.
An Oriental is man of prayer. He seems
to live for heaven and not for earth and
even in his commonest acts he pays respect
to what he holds to be celestial law. One
cup is lawful, another cup is unlawful. If
he rises from his couch, a prayer is on his
lips; if he sits down to rest, blessing is in
his heart When he buys and when he sells,
when he eats and when he drinks, he remem-
bers that the Holy One is nigh. If poor in
purse, he may be rich in grace his cabin a
sanctuary, his craft service, his daily life
an act of prayer.
Enter into Russian shed-you find a
chapel Every room in that shed is sancti-
fed for in every room there is sacred I'M
age, domestic altar, household god. The
inmate Steps in that room with reverence !;
standing for moment at the threshold, bar
ing his head, crossing himself, and uttering
sanity verse. Once in the house, he feels
himself in the Presence, and every act of his
life is dedicated to him in whom we live and
move. "Salva Bogu"-Glory to Gods a
phrase forever on his lips; not as phrase
only to be uttered in light vein, as formal
act, but with an inward bending and confes-
sion of the soul He fasts very much, and
pays respect beyond our measure to sacred
places and to sacred things. He thinks day
and night Of his angel; and payments are
made by him at church to be addressed in his
name to that guardian spirit. He finds d.
vine enjoyment in the sound of clcister-bells,
a foretaste of heaven in kneeling near the
bones of saints.
The church is with Russian early and
late. A child is hardly considered as born
into the world, unless he has been blessed by
the Pope and made. by him Servant Of
God" AS the child begins so he goes on.
The cross which he receives in baptism
which he receives in his cradle-is but a sign.
Religion goes with him to his school, his
playground and his workshop. Every act
of his life must begin with supplication and
end with thanks. A school has set of pray
ors for daily use; with forms to be used in
commencing term, on parting for holidays,
on engaging new teacher, on opening a fresh
course. 1t is the same with boys who work
in the mill and on the farm. Every one has
his office to recite and his fast to keep. The
fasting is severe; and more than half the
days in a Russian year are days of fasting
and humiliation.
During the seven weeks before Easter, no
flesh, no fish, no milk, no butter can be touch.
ed. For five or six weeks before St. Peters
day, and for six weeks before Christmas day
no flesh, no fish, no milk, no eggs, can he
used. For fifteen days in August fast Of
great severity is held in honor Of the Virgins
death. A man must fast on every Wednes'
day and Friday throughout the year, eating
nothing save fish. Besides keeping these pub,
lie fasts, aman should fast whole week before
making his confession and receiving the sac,
rament; abstaining from every dainty, from
sugar, cigarettes, and everything cooked with
fire. On the eve of Epiphany-the day for
blessing the water-no one is suffered to eat
or drink until the blessing has been given
about o'clock, when the consecrated water
may be slipped, and dinner must be eaten
with joyful heart.
Every new house in which a man lives
every new shop which he opens for trade
must be blessed. A man who moves from
one lodging to another must have his second
lodgings purified by religious rites. Ten or
Twelve IIneS u year tlie PARISH prleSI, aLteuueu
by his reader and his deacon, enters the rooms
with holy water and cleanses them with
crosses. In his marriage, on his dying bed
the church is with Russ even more than at
his birth and baptism.
Marriage is held to be sacrament, and
POLITICALLY, mans coronation is long and
intricate affair, consisting of many Offices
most of them perfect in symbolism as they
are lovely in art. Prayers are recited, rings
are exchanged, and blessings invoked, after
which the ceremony is performed-an actual
circling of the brows with golden rim
"Ivan, servant of God," cries the Pope, as he
puts the circlet on his brow is "crowned with
Nadia, the handmade of God." The bride is
crowned with Ivan, servant of God. Some
people wear their bridal crowns for a week
then put them back in the sacristy and OBJ
tain a blessing in exchange Religion touches
the lowest life with passing ornament The
bride is always queen, the groom is always
a king on their wedding day.-Free Russia
| By Hepauorth Diron.