Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-11
GRAND PAGEANT.


The Coming coronation Oi AicNauueFl
III.
A vast multitude of PERSONS cut OF Russia
who will be alurally unable to witness the
coming coronation Of The Gar, but who may
be indulging in hopes of having descriptions
of the scene conveyed 10 their minds eye,
may be spared no small amount Of disap-
poptmeni by being told that the ceremony
of the actual colonalion can lie viewed by
only. comparatively speaking, restricted
number OF individuals. The Upenski clthc.
dral is n venerable cdifCc, dating Indeed
from the end # the fifth century, when 1t
was built by Il BD.ugnr,c arclitcci, on the
site of a church erected in 1926 by the met
ropulitan Peter, aud il is very rich IN images |
and shriues. notwithstanding its partial spo- |
liation by the French in 1872. The mission |
aries Of civilization led by Napoleon l. rob-
bed the uprnski Sebor Of about five tons
weight OF silver and two tons weight oil
gold, Notwithstanding the fact that the most
important articles in the treasury had been
carried away before the arrival OF the IN
yaders: but for all Its antiquity and the
richness Of lis aGornmehts, thc lane Is
small one; and, rs Dean Stanley has OBJ
served would, in the west, lie called a
chanel rather than cathedral. 1t is ON
the platform of the nave that cars of Kus-
sla. ever siucc the days Of Ivan the Terrible
have been crowned and on that p!atior n
NAV he set the ivory throne, brought in
I4i2 from Cnustaninoplc, by Sofia PalTolo-
Cos on htr marriage with the Car Ivan Ill.
This curious relic is decorated with bas-re-
liels which represent the story of Orpheus,
and which ;.lc probably Of much greater an
tiuuiiy than the latter days Oi the Lower
Emuirc; bat mauy Of the pancls were un-
couthy r, placed in tie seventeenth century,
and the entire throne was restored for the
coronation Of Alexander H. % years ago
There is another throne in the hremin
which may he appropriated to the use OF the
empress. This gorgeous CHAIR OF state was
a present from shah of Persia to the Car
Alexis, and was brought to Moscow in 1860.
Itisa very gorgeous piece of furniture, thick
ly encrusIcd with diamonds, rubies, tur-
ouoiscs aud pearls From this ivory throne
the Car will be visible to the entire AUDITORY
filling the chapel-'ike cathedral On the
platform ot the nave he may place the i'm
perial crown On his own head aud the re-
naming ceremonies, such as the public re.
citation of the orthodox confession Of faith
the knseng of the sovereign alone to ofie
up the prayer of intercession for the empire
may be wholly or partially seen by the con
gregation but the Gar must be conct ale'
from their view when his imperial ma
iesty enters the sacred door of III
the elements of bread and wine The hig
altar in a RussoGreck church is shut off fror
the worsbippcrs in the nave by the pante
screen called the lkonostast, the doors G
which are only opened nj intervals during th
celebration of mass. The altar screen in til
cathedral at Moscow is covered with picture
for which the Russians entertain the PR
foundest venerHt,On, one OF them bein
ascrbel to the hand of the MciropClita
Peter, while another was sent from Constal
tnope by the Greek Emperor Manuel, at
a third was brought by the Car Nladim
from khcrsOn.
gorgeous Spectacle.
The solemn offices in the calhcdral-otiic
by the performance Of which the more supt
s,i,ious classes among the Russians belle
that their Gar is invested with virtual
supernatural attributes are only part of
series Of amazing pageanis which will ma
IN the aggregate Of the coronation fcslivlti
Endless professions OF court rlagcs a
court digntaries, innumcrahle deputatic
from every body in the State, fiom the
bity to the pcasanirv, TO be received IN
Throne room If the krenln; the presen
lion of the "Khlaib-sul" or bread and 81
on plateau Of precious metal, 10y the mu
cipality of Moscow u the emperC
reviews and parades, banquets and ba
and the illumination OF the walls Q
towers Of the krcmlin with &c lored lam
while the towers Of the Urenski and OF II
the Great are lit with thousands OF cleo
burners, and four electric suns" Of
power of 40, 900 candles each, will be pa
on the four turrets of the outward WALL
the palace forlrrss-a these adjuncts
swell the splendor of the scene. For barb
magnihccncc, the court of Russia has cert'
ly no compecr in Europe, and its gorget
ness is enhanced by the curious admixtur
oriental ith western pagcanlry which it
sents. The Byzantine pomp and circ
stance of the old dukes Of Muscovy
strangely mingled with the uniforms OF II
ern miltarism and court dress. Every
Of the service is represented in the Rus
Imperial Guard, which comprises even q
gians in caftans and kalpacks, and CiT
slams in coats Of mall and when czar
be crowned at Moscow, or a czar is TO be
led in the Cathedral of st Peter and st |
at st PetersburGh, the strce's and pa
grounds Of the two capitals are thronge'
the strangest types imaginable OF me
srms-soldieis iu chain armor OF