The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-14
Destriptire Artirles.
How the Gear Is Crowned.
From the Journal de Rome.

of Tartar arrowheads, its eighteen green
towers, and its five rose-colored gates, is
quite town in itself, containing three ca
thedrals, seven churches, a monastery,
nunnery and three imperial palaces.
/ Let us speak first of the three most ven
cradle sanctuaries, the cathedrals OF the As
sumption, the Annunciation and the Arch
angel st. Michael, grouped in single clus-
ter like sheaf with golden ears, enclosed
by an iron railing that shows upon the white
walls its great black net work.
The Assumption is the Cathedral OF
Rheims. the w Westminster Abbey of Russia.
Here the Emperors are crowned, and here is
preserved the ancient throne of the Cars
in carved wood, known as the throne OF
Vladimir -Monomaque. Thepillars, arches
and walls of this church, which was built
from beginning to end by italian architects
in 1475, are ornamented by large Byzan-
tine images of long-bearded saints, whose
heads are shown upon background OF gold
These holy personages in their purple gar
ments look like a procession OF Aslatlc
potentates, silent and stern.
The iconostasus of the Assumption Is a
dazzling wall of jewelry, fabulous display
of gold, of precious stones, OF pearls and
diamonds. To this wonderful are sus-
pended miraculous images of great antiquity
Virgins with dark eyes and brown skins
that belonged to grand dukes and were
brought from Novgorod, Pskof, Kew and
Constantinople. Their halos are constella-
ted with precious stones that twinkle like
little stars and shine like red sparks. Upon
their garments and dalmatics of gold, to-
pazes, sapphires, emeralds and rubies dis
play marvellous embroideries that interlace
each other like garlands of flowers. The
miraculous image of the Virgin OF Waldl-
mir, that orthodox piety attributes to St.
Luke, wears diamond necklace valued at
100000 roubles. Emeralds as large as
nuts are set in the massive golden crown OF
this Virgin. .......- ...
Close to the iconostasus canopy covers
the chair of the Patriarch, and in front OF
it velvet tent marks the place OF the En-
peror. Lamps of silver and vermilion with
fickering lights, and great wax candles with
their steady and soft jets, are not sufficient
to awaken the obscurity that sleeps under
the sombre vaults of the old cathedral.
The ceremonies of the coronation take
place in this church with pomp and splen-
dor that are peculiarly Oriental. Before
the Gar arrives the high priests with the
cross, assisted by two deacons carrying holy
water in basin of gold, sprinkle the pass
age that the Emperor is about to take
Then, arranging themselves upon the steps
that surround the imperial platform, sur
mounted by a canopy of crimson velvet
with tassels and fringes of gold, come the
grand dukes and grand dutchesses, all the
members of the imperial family, the dlplo-
matte corps, the high dignitaries OF the
empire, senators in red uniforms, ministers
bedizened with badges and cordons, mar
shals in brilliant uniforms, ladies OF the
court, and young ladies Of honor in the
national costume, including the kd6ochn1h
| Ca golden diadem embroidered in gold or
pearls) representatives of the merchants Of
all the cities of the empire, most OF them
in blue or black gowns fringed In gold
deputations from Asiatic peoples allied to
or subjects of the Emperor, Chinese, Mon
golians, Tartars Baskirs, Kalmuks, Khir.
gees, Boukharas, Circassians, Georgians
Mingrelirns, Laplanders, Esquimaux, Per
slams, Turcomans-a strange and wild mix
ture of different races, half clad and armed
some with bows or lances, others with va
tagans with silver handles, or swords with
wooden hits rudely carved
This dazzling and picturesque procession
advances, preceded by platoon of guard.
of honor, with cuirasses of red cloth starred
with silver, and by two mounted herald'
with gold embroidered brocades, red velvet
caps, and maces The Imperial arms, borne
by high functionaries, are placed at the lef
of the throne upon a table with cover o1
gold. Grouped in front of the church un
der the portal draped with velvet, the cler
gv with crosses and mitres are resplenden
in their chasubles and dalmatics sparkling
with gems. The Metropolitans, led BY
the Metropolitan of Kiew, holding censer
await the arrival of the Emperor.
At last the Gar appears. He descend
the Red Staircase upon which a Persian
carpet, fowered with roses, is placed. Ill
wears the uniform of a general of division
with red trousers, and he walks under
large canopy that puts over his head fiocl
of golden eagles in blue sky.
The Metropolitan of Moscow present
him the cross to kiss, while the Metropoli
tan of Novgorod sprinkles him with hol..
water. The princes of the church conduc
the Czar to the throne. Then the Metro
politan of Moscow approaches his imperia
Majesty and presents him with the ortho
! dox profession of faith, which the GA
reads aloud, standing with his hand upol
the guard of his sword After reading h
receives the two Metropolitans of Kiew
who ascend the steps of the throne an
bring him the coronation mantle. Th
) Gar takes it from their hands and place
) it upon his shoulders. Then he bows be
D fore the Metropolitan of Moscow, VIII
3 places his hands over him and recites
1 prayer.
r Finally, the Gar arises majestic and su
| perb, dressed in his mantle of brocade line
: with ermine, and, taking the imperial crow
sparkling with diamonds, he places it wit
his own hands upon his head. At thi
!. moment the Empress advances and kneel
before her august spouse, who, taking o
his crown, holds it an instant over the fore
, head of the Czarina in token of her sha1
7 in his omnipotence.
In the courtyard of the Kremlin the CAL
!, mons thunder. Thethree hundred churche
I of Moscow ring their joy bells, and tn
vaults of the old cathedral are filled wit
songs Of gladness and of triumph
I The mass begins The silver doors c
8 the iconostasus are opened. The Arcl
i bishops of Novgorod and of Kiew approac
Q the Emperor and inform him that all
u ready for the anointment The Gar d,
e scends from his throne. The Empress a
;. companies him to the door of the sanctuar,
y the threshold Of which no woman can eros
. The Metropolitan of Moscow then dips
9, the vase that contains the holy oil the gol