The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24

their glded robesA few minutes before
twelve the king aoueen and their suite,
drove up and asc, ed platform erected
in the square in fr}of the church. Their
coming was annoua by the playing of the
military band and firing of some rockets
and Bengal lights, d the going out of the
Metropolitan. now .ayed in his ecclesiasti-
cal robes and mi, accompanied by the
bishops, priests anthgers, to meet the King
and queen and withem to ascend this plat
form. Then for 6 or fifteen minutes the
priests chanted Anastasis, service
commemorative off resurrection of Christ,
just at the closet which the Metropoi-
itan said in louyoice " Christ is risen,
a rocket was senup, the king and queen
lighted their caJes, and at this slgnal
every one lighteIhiS candle, the church
bells all rang, rkets were fired OH, the
whole was illumins d with Bengal lights and
the Acropolis frorh be footup; every one then
turns to his neigpr and says, Christ ia
risen" to which " reply, "He is risen in
Decd often shak hands and kissing. This
we only had Pc of down the
aisle, but it VI sngal lights
casting as they 49, DS6utiful tlnts OF
different colorina over everything. After
this, the royal pay came in and took their
stand SO near US; hat we had fine oppor-
tunity of seeing the court dressing. Dur
ing the service 1.-THE house, which is not
long, every one lid lighted candle, and
then went out wit them, when the people
all dispersed. Buthe rest of the night and
during the day, anday, there is firing of
cannon, guns andtorpedoes, every one Is
supposed to give imself up to mirth, and
they all feast, th poor people saving up
their scanty earnips for this occasion. Sun
day morning, aboueleven, they have sump-
tuous meal, every ne who can afford 1T mas
lamb roasted whCe. Out of doors, we saw
number being carrd to the houses on long
slim poles on whictthey had been roasted as
on spit.
Again on Sunda, about the middle of the
day, they have srvice in all the churches
called "the second Anastasis," but from the
appearance of the streets after the bells
rang. | should thinl not many attended, as
the day is spent principally in feasting, and
what is very unusual here, the stores were
all shut, the huckshrs do not 90 through
the streets and the market is closed, this be
ing kept up for three days.
Monday the people all visit each other
still keeping up, as they do during most O.
the week, the salutation Christ is risen.
1t is said that Easter is great time for re
Cancellation of old quarrels, everybody for
gives then and shakes hands.
Tuesday is still holiday, and in the at
ternoon the whole population go out AMI
visit the old ruins, Pathernon, Temple of The
seus, Mars Hill, &c. We went out about
P. NJ in the fields around, and there certainl..
was . lively snectaele,-shcnaaadsg - ~
men and children, all in their ob5t attire
There is music and dancing, drinking coffee
and all seem to be happy. The dancing i
the Romaic dance peculiar TO Greece, i
seems to be but q modification Of the Pipri
dance Of the ancients. The men only engag
in it, some FIVE or six holding each others
hands, the leader doing most of the dancing
and he has most peculiar and solemn al
and step.
Now, Thursday morning, as | write this
all is quiet again, or rather everything ha
fallen back into the same old routine, Blu
strange to say,iu the course of an hour thre
funerals have passed under OR balcony, look
ing as if they were killing Themselves feast
ing, and it is said there is always a grea
deal of sickness and death IL consequence o
the long fasting and sudden feasting. On
of the funerals was large military funeral
and as I dropped my paper and went on tn
balcony to witness it, l did so wish for som
of my friends in America 60 see it, becaus
to them it would be such a sight, while to u
the novelty is fast passing away. | Otter
feel as if we would soon have nothing to writ
about. Ia.