New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-06
/ GREEK NEEDING ~ LONDON
From The LtrerpooI Courier.

From The LtrerpOoi Courier.
Last week / was present at An Interesting
ceremony in tne beauttui 6reck church at Bays
water WHEN in itsrf Is study of Byzantine aTchi-
lecture aad elaborate decoration. A Greek maiden
a. To wed one OF her own nation, and 10 make her
IN IRE home in classic Athens among bIs people.
I'm very lew Young wodieu excepting tho br de--
maids were present, anu noticed that the men and
women sat different slides OF the church, as
Is the case ia our own very High churches A. the
Drilal party walked up the centre of the church.
Two gOlden doors above The altar steps were thrown
open and two priests appeared gorgeousiy rODec,
wearing cuuOus hIt-Lkc covering. To their heads,
u.ucn Ike those worn b. JEWISH raDbls One Of
these. the A.chimandrlte, Is hands 'me man. They
eecen ed, eacn holding cross IN his
h:uds aud proceeded with the ceremony
i'm "A language quite unknown to me, and
1 found was eq IaIIy unintrilluble To a di5t.n
guisncd Greek scuOiar who was with me, wno ex-
plllLcd that the OuunclajlOh0 OF modern bteek ILL
rrrd 20 much from fndi Of tht Greck II The
University schools, that though he could read 1t
oicra5y. he c)ud III no way understand or converse
III H. II was noticeable that no Instrumental mus
into the service of the Greek hurch, but ne
voice alone cndutng or iutOnlng the prayers and
responses, conducts the WlOlc service.
] curious TO know why had seen two
wraaths On the table. thinking perhaps that TWO
brides peCtcd, but found that III this verd
sym Doncal ceremony the bridegroom Is crowley
with huwers - we'll as the Drue. This Is sOlenniy
done u the priest, aud the wTcaths are crossed
aad exchanged above the heads of tine PAR III O
Noaderiul way, until, with them supported as
Wen As possible IN position by an attendant gTOOms-
nan, tue bridegroom Is lei by The priest lutOnlng
as lie walks, sul holding his bride by the hand IN
sort OF procession round tho centre taole o. tuo
church. .O.lOwed by the bridesmaids a d the as lst
ant .hatlOn ana by two young men of the par y
"a IA holding large wax canuie, ABOUT SIX 4Cet
high. lighted, and wreathed with wnIte
flowers and sl-ln nbOOu. Ii must have
been trying position for the Young
man, and certainly neither a dIgnifed nor solemn
ono 10 al outsider LOOKING more IKE the perform
auCo Ia cOtI.liOn than "a rel IgIOus service but
tOld that III the Greek Church muen /. SYMBOL
cal aud appeals only TO those VINO can estimate the
significance OF eGCn little ceremony Ihs process
sIonai march indicated JOY rejoicing, Is by a
dance.
The sign OF the was very constantly made
by the congregation, as In "a kOmas Catholic ser-
vice, and the thick gold Wedding RAG wa used Tor
that purpose by the priest on the forehead OF both
bride aud bridegroom before II was placed on the
ladys nnger. The pair partOOk OF the bread and
wine unuer ths same sy inbOl OF course the mar
riage was really and legally effected by the regis
trar at an early period OF tho day, and Greek la
told mo that the ceremony winc .sed included
both betrothal and marriage hence It's length and
variety
In such classic society as this we scarcely ex-
peeted ordinary food, but fOund that goOd English
roast beet agreed admirably vita preserved rose
leaves and delicious honey from Mount Ill ymebJus,
where the bees OF to-day still extract luscious fra
GRANGE from luxuTiant aud perfumed flowers, under
sunny skies OF Attlca, they did the
times of classic story. The honey cakes had for
lunch on this occasion 1 shall forget i hoy
a dream of flowers and ambrosIal sweetness.
aud were washed down by rich wine which tasted
u NE Like nectar.