The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-26
How the Gar is Crowned.

How the Gar IS Crowned.
Although some ceremony OF iEau-
guration accompanied the succession
of the early Grand Princess OF Mos
COW, Tver, kief, etc, and the first
two Cars Of all the Russias, Ivan
lIV. (Vassilivitch), surnamed the
Terrible, who came to the throne
when he was sixteen years old, in
fS41, seems to have been the first
Car who was crowned according to
our modern notions Of that cere-
mopy. But his coronation was
performed with little of the pomp
and paraphernalia used in these
days. The ceremonial now ordina-
rily followed was first observe at the
accession Of Feodor Ivanovitch, the
last of the dynasty Of Rurik, in
1854, and was the first Gar who re-
ceiyed at the hands OF the Pontiff
consecrated oil. On leaving the pal
ace Of the Kremlin for the Cathe-
dral of the assumption, the Gar is
preceded by a cortege conveying his
Regalia. These are received by the
clergy with cloud Of incense and a
murmured blessing at the church
door, and then deposited inside in
the place appointed for them. They
comprise the various crowns Of the
ancient and modern kingdoms and
princedoms included at the time in
the Russian Empire; the Imperial
standard of yellow satin embroider-
ed with the arms and devices Of the
same provinces; the scepter, globe,
and the Imperial puppies, and the
cross worn on the breast, in which
is set a piece of the true cross. Nor
should the historic cape be forgot
ten, called by the Russians Jarmg,
signifying the weight of empire and
responsibility which the new Sover-
eign is taking upon his shoulders.
1t is richly iewelled, and ornament
ed with enamels portraying different
scenes out OF the Old and New Tes-
lament. The story goes that it once
belonged TO Constantine Monoma-
chus, and was sent to the Grand
Prince Vladimir II. by the Emperor
Alexis Comnenue in the year 111G
A. d. After the Gar has made the
profession of the Orthodox faith, he
is helped by the Metropolitan of
Kief and the Archbishop of Moscow
into the Imperial mantle. The
crown is then brought in and placed
on his head, the officiating prelate
intoning something like the follow
ing formula Most pious, puissant.
great lord, Emperor of ali Russia
This visible and material ornament
is the outward sign of the mysteri-
Gus act by which the King OF Glory
crowns thee 1T this moment-thee
the chief Of all the people OF Russia
confirming thee by means OF His
holy benediction in thy absolute
and supreme authority over thy
subjects Next he places the sceD-
ire in his right hand and the globe
in his lett, saving: "Oh thou crown
ed of God thou whom lie has IL
vosed by His gifts and adorned by
HIS graces most powerful and great
lord, Emperor Of all Russia. receive
the sceptre and the globe, They
are the symbols OF the supreme
power which the Most High has
given thee over thy people to govern
them and assure their well-being."
Various prayers commonly inter
yene between the act OF coronation
and that of conservation, which is
performed by the Metropolitan of
Novgorod touching the forehead,
eyelids, lips and ears Of the Car, as
well as the palms of his hands, with
the consecrated oil, saying the while,
"This IS the gift Of the Holy Spirit"
The Metropolitan of Kief thereupon
wipes all traces OF the oil from the
Imperial hands and countenance-a
wholesome innovation Of compara-
lively modern times; for as lately as
the last century the Gar was sup.
posed to abstain from washing for
seven days after the ceremony those |
parts which the consecrated oil had
touched.
No sooner has the Car been |
crowned than he hastens to perform !
the same Office for his consort. !
First he touches with his own crown
the forehead of the kneeling Cxarina !
to show that she must take her part !
in the responsibilities of power
then, assisted by her ladies, ne fixes
the proper diadem of the Empress |
Consort on her brow. When o
Czarina is crowned independently |
of her husband, she enjoys Q more I
magnificent ceremonial. Marina, |
the Polish wife of the False Dmitri, /
was crowned at Moscow with extra
ordinary magnificence on the 18th |
day Of May, 1906. This wayward |
lady, who was a Roman Catholic, |
refused, it is recorded, to make the |
Orthodox confession, and claimed .
the right to 20 to church dressed /
after the latest French fashion-a |
robe with a long waist and . ruff
two feet in diameter, and the small |
est slippers that could be bought in
Paris on her feet, all Of which was q
grave scandal to the simple Musco-
vitcs, who had been accustomed to
see their Czarinas wearing the na-
tional garb, which had no waist at
all, and hob-nailed boots such as
Russian peasants wear now, on their /
co onation day.