Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-25
Funeral Ceremonies in 4 thens

Long before funeral procession comes IN
sight. the ear catches the low monotouous chant
Of the priests, who are preceded by boys IN
white robes bearing the cruci6x and ecclesias
teal insignia, in presence OF which every head
is uncovered, and every hand makes the sign
of the cross The corpse is exposed to full
view in an open coffin OF light material, covered
with white or black cloth, with silver or gilt
decorations, the cover Of which. marked With
a long diagonal cross, is carried before the pro-
ccssion .rhc body is dressed in the customary
clothes of the deceased, the head slightly ele.
waited, and the hands folded in front OF a panel
picture of the Virgin set up on the breast. Ii
it is female the cheeks and lips are painted
ycrmilion, intended to reproduce a natural ex
preston, but which gives to the corpse au ar
tifcial and ghastly look. Even to one accus
fomed to witness the exposure OF the dead IL
Oriental countries there is something painful
in the idea OF exhibiting to the glare OF day,
and amidst the wh!rl and lnscnslbllty OF the
public street, the features OF a deceased person
who in lite may have been known only TO the
little group of mourners gathered about the
remains. AT Gree k funerals the hearSe is not
generally employed, 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 a group around 1t. Thus
they literally carry and 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 touching to behold. A
single priest, perhaps, performs the chant, and
half dozen mourDers, representing the little
household, bear between them the coffin. which
is composed OF the cheapest material. and GOV:
cred with white muslin. When a person of
distinguished position dies the funeral process
sion becomes an imposing spectacle, with the
bishop and priests in their gorgeous sacerdotal
robes numerous lighted candles, and martial
music. | once saw the body Of a venerable
bishop of the Greek Church carried in process
sion through the streets of Athens He was
seated 10 his bishops chair, elevated above
the people, and was clothed in his canonical
robes, with inter on head and the crosler up
lifted in his hand. A cloth around the fore
head bound it to the back of the chair, but not
sufficiently close to prevent the head bobblng
UP and down. as if the dead mans pale and
rigid features were salutng, for the last time,
the people among whom he had exercised his
holy office for over threescore years. ln this
position he was placed in the grave, peculiar
honor accorded to his ecclesiastical rank. The
dead d-chiefy from climatic considerations
arc buried within twentytour hours OF their
deccase This is very shocking to foreign
ideas; but the custom has come to be
complied with within less time than the law
requires. 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 mourn.
crS be relieved from association with what Is
rcpulSivc, and return to the inward contempla-
ton OF their friend, as they knew him in life.
Thus it often happens that the first intimatiou
of death is conveyed III the printed invitation
to the funeral. | have conVersed with gen
tlcman at an evening party, who appeared to
be in the highest enjoyment Of physical health,
and the day following witnessed his interment
he having expired in the mean time from apo
plcxy [ had once business appointment with
q near neighbor, and, on going to fulfill 1t, met
his dead body coming down the door-steps. |
was sitting one evening at the bedside OF dis
tinguished American Missionary who was de-
scribing to me his peculiar malady, and the
next afternoon [ saw him laid in the Protestant
Cemetery. The modern Greek may we'll ex-
claim with the ancient Creek
who knows what fortunes on tomorrow wait,
Since Charms one day well to US appeared,
And on the next was mournfully interredF
1t is the custom, after the decease of the oc-
cupant, to drape the interior of the house with
mourning. | have seen every article OF turnl.
turc, from piano to tootstoo, draped In black,
and even Il small strcaner Of Grape attached to
the key of the tobacco box.-F,om "INode,n
.1hcns,' Jy Cha,7cs K. Tucke,nsan, IN Serb
nrS for October.