Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-05-06
A FAMOUS CORONATION.
The Ceremonies by Which Peter the
Great and Ivan Were Crowned.
Eugene Schuyler in scribner.l


Cathedral of the Assumption, where it
was celebrated by the Patriarch Kir
Joachim, attended by all the superior
clergy. During the night a square plat
form, raised on twelve steps, was erected
in the middle of the cathedral, immedi-
ately under the dome, and covered with
crimson cloth. From this platform to
the cLancel the pavement was spread
with red cloth, on which two strips of
scarlet velvet We're laid for the tsars, and
strip of blue velvet for the patriarch.
On each side were raised seats for the
clergy, covered with Persian carpets and
cloth of gold. On the centor platform a
double throne was erected. There had
not been time to make entirely fresh
regalia for the double coronation, and
the silvered gilt throne of handsome
workmanship made for the Tsar Alexis
was divided by bar In the middle, so
that it could be used by the two boys
Behind seat was placed, so that the
monitor of Peter, through the hole in
the back, could whisper to him the neces-
sary responses. The crown, sceptor and
globe, originally presented from Constan
tine Donomachus, emperor of the east,
to the Grand Duke Vladimir of Kief, had
been initiated in smaller sizes and at less
expense for the use Of Peter. The old
historic ones, with which all the tsars.
had been crowned, were reserved for
Ivan. This was the last time they were
used. The successors of Peter were
emperors, not tsars, and the crown and
pectoral cross of Monomachus, the visi-
bic symbols of the relations of the Mus
covite tsars to the emperors OF Constan-
tinople, are now mere curiosities in the
imperial treasury at Moscow. On the
left side Of this throne was Il third throne
for the patriarch, the spiritual emperor.
This, too, was used for the last time
The power of the clergy was to be h-
minished and the rule of the patriarch to
be broken.
In the chancel were placed six reading
desks, two lower than than the rest, COW
cred with satin embroidered with jewels,
on which were to be placed the crown
and scepter and the pectoral cross of
Monomachus. containg a relic OF the true
cross.
At the first dawn of day Oh the 9th of
July the bells began to ring loyfrllly,
and there was great procession of the
o'clock the two boy boy tsars went tothe
palace chapel for mathis, and then IN
procession to the banqueting hall.
Here, in honor of the day, they promot-
ed to the rank of boyar Prince Andrei
Havansky, Michael Plestcheief and Mat
thew Miloslavsky. Larion Miloslavsky
and Zmeief were made okolnitchi and Hi
trovo and Pushetchnikof appointed privy
councillors. The tsars wore long robes
of cloth of gold covered with lace and
fringes, broad sleeves and caps set with
precious stones. Not only were their
robes cut from the same pieces, but the
candles they held were of the same
length, that there might be no inequali
ty. Select boyars were then sent to the
treasury to fetch the cross, crown, the
scepters and the other regaha, which
were brought in by the priests and then
carried to the Cathedral of the Assump
ton, where they were received by the
patriarch and the superior clergy on gold
dishes and placed on the lecterns pre-
pared for them. On entering the ban
quoting hall the boyars informed the
tsar that all was ready, and then long
procession--beginning with the inferior
officials, rising to the highest boyals,
then to the tsars and gradually diminish
ing again to the petty officials and mobiles
went slowly down the red staircase
from the banquetlng hall to the Cathe-
dral of the Assumption over a path made
on the pavement by crimson cloth,
which was sprinkled by priests with
holy water through the dense masses of
the populace which filed the whole
square. At the entrance of the
cathedral the tsars were met
by the patriarch, who wished
them long life and held them the cross
to kiss. After kissing the great pictures
on the altar screen, especially the Virgin
painted by St. Luke, the tsars took
their places on the platform. Standing
here in this old castle, crowded with
their subjects, the gilded walls and pill
lars of which, lighted up by Pickering
candles, displayed the rude pictures OF
saints and martyrs; under the great cen
trail dome, from which looked down the
gigantic image of our Saviour, with hands
appraised in the act of blessing, the
tsars, after reciting the story OF their
accession to the throne, demanded OF the
patriarch the rite of conservation and
coronation. The patriarch III reply
asked to what faith they belonged.
They answered: "To the holy orthodox
Russian faith, ana set forth in long
speech the good which they expected to
do to their people. Then, after hymns
and prayers and swinging of censers, the I
patriarchs placed on their heads the
crown Of Monomachus, threw over their
shoulders the coronation yestments,
L L