St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-03-16

that in the succession of thirty three
lunar years it is observed in spring,
summer, autumn and winter.
The Greeks have a fast for two or
three days preceding Christmas, and
the evening before. is spent in the
churches, with ceremonies appropriate
to the event. The day is taken up
mainly with visits and social intercourse
between families and friends.
The Armenians fast for seven days
before Christmas, "or at least" to use
the words of the young Armenian,
Abraham, who has informed me about
these matters, "the priests and old
women do" In truth the state of re-
ligion and religious observances is very
low in the Eastern churches. and any
thing of the kind is regarded by very
many as relic of superstition, which
will be entirely removed as civilization
| advances.
The day before Christmas, January
5th, o. s., the people assemble in the
churches to hear read the prophecies
concerning the birth of the Saviour,
and in the evening boys go round the
streets from house to house singing a
song called Auadis, "goOd tidings," ex
pecting to receive a small bdkShish for
their pains.
At eight o'clock Turkish time, (about
one the next mOrning,) the ZhamgOtch
calls the people again to the churches
to devOtions. 1t is a man who goes
about the streets to wake up the
sleepers, which he does by thump on
the pavement accompanied by drawl
ing chant, "Good Christians, come to
church 3 good Christians come to
church the Saviour has come into the
world !"
This morning service, consisting of
readings, and singing of ancient hymns,
is finished before light, and the wor-
shippers with small tapers carry the
holy fire from the church to re-kindle
the light in their dwellings.
The festivities of Christmas last three
davs, during which time all work is
suspended and the time is devoted to
visiting. Besides the visits of relations
it is customary for people to call upon
their superiors. The priests also go
about from house to house, to bless
them, reading portion of Scripture in
each one, and singing hymn, expect
ing to receive in return bGkShiSh. 1t
is one of the perquisites that the poor
fellows have to keep soul and body
from parting company. They have no
regular salary, and all they have to
live Oh is such fees as they get at bap-
tisms, marriages, funerals, etc. This
Christmas gift was formerly bestowed
in shape of bread, and small boys ac-
companied each clerical visitant, to
collect the loaves of the staff of life,
that were doled out in return for his
priestly blessing.
This, as Abraham informs me, is the
way the Armenians are supposed to
celebrate Christmas, "but," added he,
eff you would know the truth, | must
say that the men almost all go to the
coffee houses and get drunk. 1t is sad"
he continued, ''that even this year,
when it is so hard to get money, and
many have not enough to buy bread,
that the drunkenness and revelry was
about the same as usual"
Among the Bulgarians do not learn
that there ale any special observances
for Christmas day, except the killing OF
swine, and the preparation of various
kinds of savory dishes from their flesh.
| have mentioned that among the
Armenians Apiphamy occurs on the
same day as Christmas. The cere-
monies celebrating the two feasts are
combined, and the passage of Scrip
ture which l have said was read by the
priests from house to house is that re-
lating to the baptism of Christ, and not
to his birth. 1t might, however, as
well be a description of the Flood, as it
is in ancient Armenian, which compara-
lively few of the people understand.
On this day kind of holy water is pre-
pared for use in baptisms, publications,
blessings, etc.
The great Armenian Catholics at
Etchmiadzin, in Central Armenia,-the
head of their church, has the exclusive
monopoly of making a kind of holy oil
from flowers, into which he puts the
hand of st. Gregory, the Illumination
who converted the pagan Armenian
nation to Christianity in the early part
of the fourth century, and whose hand
is said to have been preserved evel
since and kept as priceless treasure
by the holy Catholics. As soon as this
! hand is introduced into the oil, it be-
gins to boil, and is then ready to be
sent around to all the churches in Ar
meniandom. A few drops of this holy
oil is put in water on Epiphany, and
the water thus cOnsecrated is kept fol
the purposes l have mentioned.
The Greeks have a curious custom
on Epiphany, called baptizing the
cross. Very early in the morning the
people go to the church for some kline
of service, and forming a procession
they proceed to the Bosphorus, headed
! by Bishop, bearing a small gilt cross
On reaching the water the Bishop
= throws the cross far out into the stream