The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-30
TEE GAR AT CHURCH.

TEE CAR AT CHURCH.
His MsJesty's Reception by the Priest OF
the Russian Chapel In London.
From the LONDON Post, May 1871
Yesterday morning His Imperial Majesty, accom-
panied by the Duchess Of Edinburgh and the Grand
Duke Alexis, attended the chapel attached to the
Russian Embassy IN welbeck street. A large num-
Der OF persons assembled outside the chapel to
witness the arrival and departure of the imperial
party. The Rev. N. Popon, the esteemed priest,
awaited the entrance Of the Emperor, the Grand
Duchess and the Grand Duke at what answers to
the porch OF the chapel aud to eac, OF the august
personages he extended the holy Cross, which
kissed the hand OF the Emperor. the Grand Duchess
and the Grand Duke. who returned the salutatIon
The ONCE Of the Divine Liturgy having
been performed. the Emperor was addressed
the TACT OF three Emperors OF Russia having been
present at divine worship IN the chapel OF the
visit to this country and TO the Embassy church.
The Emperor then received from the priest piece
OF blessed bread, which HIS Imperial Majesty pre-
sented to the cdpeilneSter OF the Grande Egisa at
the Winter chapel, st. Petersburg, who with four
other members OF the Imperial Court choir sung
the beautiful music incidental to the service,
winch, II may be added, ID very similar to the
Roman Mass With the kissing Of the Holy Cross
once more by the Emperor, the Grand Duchess,
and the Grand Duke. the service, which was singu.
larly Impressive and beautiful terminated, and
the Imperial party retired
the ONCE was performed by the Rev. M. Popon,
the priest or the chapel assisted by the Rev. Basil
Popon. Of the Court chapel, ST. Petersburg, who
Pop0T (son OF the priest OF the Russian chapel
Welbeck street,, who acted as deacon. Two
the little congregation, who were almo, excu-
sively Russians were His Excellency Count Brun-
now and Count Adierberg.
SOLEMN SERVICES OF THE ALTAR.
When the Court singers had taken their places
within the rails the holy gates were thrown open
Emperor, and then at the decorated and lighted
altar were discovered IN their vestments the off,
known as the "WeeK OF the Blind Man" when the
service OF the divine ana sacred liturgy OF ST. John
Chrysostom was appointed to be said aud sung
were the same as that OF the altar, gold and red
embroidery Of superb cnaracter relieved with
or less richness according to the rank Of the priest
For some ,ime the priest and his deacons stood at
Emperor and his son and daughter.
OF hand the arch.priest, in his vestments and
mitre, accompanied by the pr0to-deacon, with
holy water and sprnkling brush, advanced TO the
arch-priest, and the rrst ceremony was that OF
taking the holy water and kissing the cross. Some
brief description OF the ritual employed in the
Divine Liturgy OF st. Chrysostom may doubtless be
OF interest at q time when such matters are occu-
plying very deep and earnest attention. imagine
Ii you can, compact chapel filed with earnest
! wOrshippers, the men on the right side the women
on the left an open space being lett ON the mems
Picture an Eastern dome over the heads of the
WorsaiPpers ana inrraer on 'holy Of holies
and STALL further separated by what we should call
a rood SCREEN" only beside the centre or holy
gates are two more entrances to the sanctuary, on
| the right hand and on the left. Between the
sacred doors, on the panels, are frescoes vita
Virgin Mother and child. Before all the pictures
and Irescoes lgnts are burning, and there is
coming out from the "Bema,n says In Greek.
"Bless Master" The priest replies aloud, BLESSED
be the Kingdom OF the Father and OF the Son and
OF the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to the ages
OF ages" Then for the first time the choir Is
heard in an exauisitlvely harmonized "amen."
The Litany follows with its sufrrages proclaimed
by the proto-deacon, and to every suffrage comes
from the choir the indescrIbable refrain, surpass
mercy upon us' (kyrie Eleison). It is a noticea-
BILE fact that In this Lttany prayers are offered up
t1a hong nie 70 me Emper9r and MS family for
Queen victorian and In the Lltany suffrage spe-
ciaily devoted TO the Duchess OF Edinburgh her
name Is united with that OF her Industrious cOnsort.
| After several antiphons and prayers, said openly
and in secret we come TO the reading OF the Holy
priest and deacons. standing before the holy table,
/ make three alterations; the priest gives the Holy
t. tie na linen going with
! trance. The Gospel Is then blessed and what is
known as the "Trisagow" Is sung. The epistle.
| which yesterday was taken from the Acts OF the
Apostles chapter xvi, verses 10 to 49, is then said.
the "Aiieiuia' is exqutsitely sung by the choir,
the congregation Is censed and procession Is
formed with lights for fetching and reading the
Gospel ~, st. John, chapter TX, verses to 50, was
| SURFACES, all answered by the choir with that
! plaintive "Kyrle Eleis0n" or q triumphant "Ane-
lula" until the Cnerubic Hymn, or hymn OF the
Cherubim, is sung.
After other portions OF the ceremony the arch
priest concluded with iervent and eloquent
prayer to the Almighty that He would bless and
preserve the Emperor and his children and make
their lives happy, their paths prosperous.