The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-08
RUSSIAN WORSHIP IN NEW YORK.
The Rev. Father behring's Chapel TO be He
placed by n Handsome Edidcc.


On the west side of Second avenue, be-
tween Fiftieth and Fifty-nrst streets, Is row OF
brown-stone residences. The houses are all
alike, but one Of them Is distinguished by a
small golden cross over the door. Tho paror
floor Of the house with the golden cross IA the
only Russian-Greck chapel 10 the United States.
The parlor Is divided by sliding doors. The rear
portion contains an altar covered with golden
cloth, and the magnificent emolems and uten-
sils used In worship by the Greek Church. The
front portion Is for the congregation. During
services the sliding doors arc open. disclosing
the Rev. Father Nicholas Bierring, clad In his
robes, officiating at the altar The services yes
terday were espe cially Interesting, because the
pastor, In his serm on, explained the doctrines
OF the Greek Church. The announcement that
he would make the explanation In the English
language drew large number Of persons W no
filled.
After the liturgy the Rev. Father Bjerrina
SAID " The beauty which we meet with among
the Greeks, and the law which was founded by
the Romans, Will always remain "a the true
Rround 81 all classical education. We believe
In one God In three persons. God tho Fatner
was not born, and does not proceed from
other tcrsOn. God the Son was born before all
eternity. God the Holy Ghost proceeds before
n ,n sterntv IRON Sod the father All are eauI
the orthodox story OF Adams tail. the intro
duction OF sin In the world. and tue coming OF
Chiiit as the mediator between God aud man.
Father Bjerring continued "Christs body
being in the grave. his soul descended into hell
10 nDerate thence the sous OF those who from
the beginning of the world awaited his appear
ance Christ Is the only High Priest and the only
he Il OF the Church." The Greek Church aivo-
Gates the Invocation Of saints. Decau q the saints
are believed to 10 purer and nearer to God than
mOrtals on earth. Baptism aud confirmation arc
also Included In tue doctrines Of the Greek
Church.
After the sermon golden cross was held I'D
before the people "a symuol OF the blessing OF
Goa, and tue DenedictiOn was pronounced. he
Roiden cross Is AN elaborate We X Of art. IL IA
In the Greek form. and engraved In a beautiful
manner. IL Is intrnslcdily very valuable, while
In a religious ospect II Is regarded as sacred ny
the Greek Church.
The russian Greek Chapel In New York was
established prior to the visit Of the Grand Duke
Alexis to the United states but 1t had all 90
scure existence until IL was made famous by the
Grand Duke going there to attend religious ser
vices. the Rev. Father BJerriug was sent to tns
United states AS "a Greek Jhurch mis- iDnsry Dy
tue RUSSIAN GOvefnnent, by whom his 3 lary
aud tue expenses VI the chapel aye y Id. There
are In and near New York ABOUT I5O members
oil the Greek Cnurch. nearly all II whom attend
upon the Rev. Father behring's minlstratIone.
u side the resident members there are many
Russians who, when temporarily IN the city,
make tue little chapel their spiritual home. In
rooms over the cbaDel are the clergymsn's libra
~ aud STUDY. The apartments are decidedly
russian In appearance. Lii erature printed III
the SclIvontc language IL abunlaIt. Religious
anc secular newspapers pu Olishcd ia 81. Peters
burg ana Other Russian Giles ars kept on file.
IL Is not expected that this chapel will ue long
W tue craInpSd quarters IN second avenue. me
Grand Duke, when he was here, took "a deep i'll
terest IN the little church, anu expressed "A de-
sire that a new chapei be erected. Alter his re-
turn tn his u tive country 1t VS. inumatei nat
an appropriation would Dc made Uy hi q OverII-
Meu1 10 DuHI a handsome chapel III New YORK.