The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-10


A New Departure for Greek Catholi-
cism - An English Service and .
Crowded Church.
An innovation, probably the first OF its kind In
the Greek Christian world, has been introduced
into the little chapel Of the Russian Embassy in
Second avenue, near Fiftieth street. in this city
Rev. N BJering pastor. II Is perhaps already
generally known that the parlors OF the PASTORS
house have been fitted up as chapel and there
the services are conducted every Sabbath Recently
the little chapel received new coat from
the hands OF the painters and artists OF the
brush which has improved Its appearance and
greatly relieved the sombre white which 1t wore
before But the feature OF deepest interest is not
the coorng of the ceilings and walls and panels of
the chapel, nor the richly embroidered vestments
OF the priest and his assistant, though these are
attractive, but rather the rendering Of the entir
SERVICES IN ENGLISH.
Hitherto the Litany and prayers have been said
and sung alternately in English ana in Russian BY
the Rev.. Father Bjering and his assistant. But
there came such pressure upon the pas tor, not
only from his own little flock OF Russians and
Protestants here who occasionally visited his
chapel d, for complete English s service, that
after much labor, and with the authorization OF
the "Most Holy Governing Synod OF Russia" the
the rgss 81 ana Bas
the Great, the fathers Of the Church. which have
THE SECOND SABBATH OF TRIAL
OF this new regime, and 1t worked admirably. The
liturgy Is printed In pamphlet form, and certain
portions set to music for the of the choir,
which consists of three male vOices-treble, tenord
andthe deep bass voice of the assistant The choir
Is not yet thorough master OF the language and the
music, but with little more practice will improve,
no doubt The chapel Is too small for female voices,
and indeed for many or strong male voices.
The little chapel was crowded yesterday with
strangers, and the priest and choir at the close Of
the service were cOmplimented on the part which
the latter bore in the service. The prayers opened
with an invocation to the Trinity, prayer for sal
walton, for the peace OF the world and the stability
Of 1.-THE holy churches OF G0d and their unity, Tor
this particular church, for the governing Synod
and its bishops, presbyters, deacons, &C., for
THE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD OF RUSSIA,
ana Tor the overthrow OF their enemies on every
as for those VINO are sick or in bondage In danger
part Of the 1O3d Psalm Is intoned by the as
sistant priest while prayer Is inaudiby
offered by the priest The Beatitudes in Matthew
W. are intOned also by the assistant, after which,
while the choir sing, the priest proceeds to make
the "little entrance" and prays for the entrance
OF angels and archanges. &C., with him. The
epstle read was from Hebrews portions Of chapters
st. John, part OF chapter Philip finding Nathan
lei DC. Half dozen times during the service
prayers are offered and alteration made to ''Our
alhOly, SpOtless, most blessed and glorious lady,
the mother Of God and Virgin and her inter-
cession Is asked. SO that Roman Catholics will
not find very material difference In this service
from what they would find In their own. The
sacramental elements were partaken OF yesterday
by portion Of the congregation at the close OF the