The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-05-17
THE GREAT CEREMONY:

Alexander III will be crowned in
Moscow on Sunday the 9th Of May. As
the coronation is one of the most bril-
liant ceremonies in the world, a descrip-
ton Oft (trOm Russian sonrce) may
be read with interest. The great cere-
mony has always been performed in the
church Of the Holy Assumption within
the walls of the Kremlin at the Ancient
town of Moscow. The great Kremlin is
Is an octagon plot of ground of many
acres, on a high elevation, surrounded
by high walls and fortications, and con-
tains four crown palaces, three cathe-
drals, the headquarters of tho Imperial
Guards, the governors residence, a
university, and number of monastcries
and nunneries. The appearance of the
kremlin is very striking, as the walls
are white, the Notifications emerald
green, the entrances rose tinted, and
the roofs of the cathedral gilded, the
whole forming wonderful combination.
The coronation procession begins to
form at the cavalry barracks, four miles
distant from tho kremlln.
Early in the day appointed for the GER
emony sixty heralds, mounted on cream
colored horses and commanded by
master of ceremonies, appear before the
gates OF the barracks and blow q salvo.
upon which the colonel Of the regiment
appears and asks what they want Of him:
1.-The Gar commands thee, follow me-"
Is the answer, and the gates are thrown
open aud the regiment, which has been
eYnnrtlnU tho 4
follows the heralds. The heralds then
proceed to the barracks of the lancers.
where the same thing takes place, then
to the university, then to the Cathedral
OF st. Nicholas, where the clergy Join in
the procession, then to the law courts.
where the judges fall in, then to the
headquarters Of the marshals, cf the
nobility, the staff officers, the several
professions, the governors, the deputa-
lions troil every part Of the empire, the
trade gu Ids, &c, each body joining at q
separate place, and all being summoned
by the hcralts, as in the first case. The
procession goes on swelling until it
reaches enormous proportions, 80
much so that when the head Of
it arrives at the Kremlin the
tail is still at the other end Of the town.
Arriving 1T st. Demetrius' gate they
find it closed. The heralds then blow
their trumpets, and the commands. Of
the citadel appears and demands what
they want, to which the crowd replies
''The Car" "And what for?" asks the
commander. TO crown him the most
powerful OF the powerful" is the reply,
and the gates fly open. The Metropolis
tans of Moscow, Kazan, Novgorod, and
Kieff here head the procession, and,
with the deputations from every part Of
the empire, they advance to the palace
and form in front of it. These deputa-
tons consist of Russians. Roumanians,
kirghiz, Chinese, Mingrellans, Bashkirs,
Poles, Georgians, Circassiaas, Calmucks,
Armcnians, Turkomans, Tartars, Esaui-
maux, Afghans, Bulgarians, Laplanders,
Mongolians, Firms, Persians, and Box
harians, all in their respective national
costumes. The Metropolitans then ad-
forward, upon which he appears at the
portico, dressed in the uniform of COL
onel OF the Imperial Guards, with the
Empress, dressed as Russian peasant,
on his arm. The instant the
Populations are aware of the imperial
presence they kneel, and being asked
by the Car what they want of him, the
Metropolitan of Moscow replies that
they have been sent from far and wide
TO see their Car anointed, 80 that they
can return to their homes and assure
those who sent them that the car is
verify the lords anointed, and that they
may obey mono but him. Thence all
proceed to the Cathedral of tho Holy
Assumption, the car and czarina walk
ing between the bishops and depu-
tations.
Arriving at the church, the car and
his wife are shown to ordinary
thrones near those of the bishops, and
the special service Immediately begins.
After the first lesson is read the Met
,opoIitans conduct the emperor and en-
press to canopy Of scarlet velvet, rich
1y embroidered in gold, the principle
figure being the deuble-h headed Russian
eagle. Under this canol is an elevated
platform, upon which are the historical
throne of the car Vladimir Monomague
and an ordinary arm chair for the en-
press, also table upon which are the
sceptre and crown of Constantinus Mono
machus, a sword and mantle of ermine.
The mobiles now advance from the south
OF the Cathedral and surrounding the
platform draw their swords and place
them at the feet of the car. The bish-
Op of kazan then asks the emperor in q
loud voice If he is a true believer, to
which he replies by reading the Lords
Prayer and the Apostles Creed of the
Greek church. The bishop next says:
If there be any OF you here present
knowing any impeachment for which Al
exander, son If Alexander Tor other
name), should not be crowned by the
grace Of God, emperor and autacrat o!
Vladimir, of Novgerod; Gar of Kazan,
of AstraAhan, of Poland, of Siberia, Of
KhersoniTaurida, OF Grousi; Gosoudar oil
Pskof; Grand Duke of SmOlensk, OF
Lithuania, Of Volhynia, of Podolia
and Of Finland; Prince of Esth.
onia: of Livonia, of Courland; OF
Semigalia, of the Samoyedes, of Bielos-
tok, Of Corelie, of Foer, OF Ingor, OF
Perm of Vsatk;., of Bulgaria, and of 9TH
er counties; Master and Grand Duke OF
the Lower Countries in Nov!orod, OF
TchernigoE, of Riazan, of Polotsk, of Ros-
to6 of Jaros;af, OF Bielosersk, of Oudork,
ofObdorsk, of Kondisk, ofVitb!sk of Msti-
aft and of all the countries of the North;
Master Absolute of Ivcrsk, of Kastal-
naik. and of the Territory OF
Armenia: Sovereign of Mountain
Princes ofTcherkask; Master of Turkes-
tan. Heir Presunptiye of Norway and
Duke Of Steswick- Holstein, of Stormarne,
u DlCtlulHISo 6llU Vi OlUenOurR, lot
him come forward now, IN the name OF
the Holy Trinity and show what the i'm
pediment is, or let him remain dumb
for ever!
This is repeated three times, and upon
no objection being raised, he lays
his hand upon the head of the Car, who
Immediately kneels. At this point the
Metropolitan Of Moscow takes the man
tie of ermine from the table and throws
it over the kneeling Car, saying: Soy
er and protect thy people as this robe
covers and protects thee;;" the Emperor
replying will, will, I will, God
helping" and kissing the prelate'a
hand. The Bishop Of Noveorod nov
5 places the sceptre in the Cars hand,
saying: "May thine hand which holds
this wither the day thou art unjust =
which the Bishop of Kieff places the
crown upon the emperor's head. Al
this. point the empress kneels beside hol
husband, who partly covers her with the
cloak OF ermine, and also holds hid
crown above her head for few eco.