Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-05-19
Easter in Russia.
Mrs. A. H. Leonowens in Youths Compan-
inn

MIS-. a. II. L6OIlOWcuS 1OUGu
ion.
Easter week is celebrated with all pos,
sible grandeur in all the cities, great anc
small, OF the Russian, and especially il
Moscow.
On Holy Friday just before midnigh
twelve priests, headed by the metropo
Titan, or archbishop of Moscow, clothed
II long black robes, with tall black cap!
and long pendant black wells, repair tt
the cathedral chanting low and solemn
requiem for the dead Christ. They enter
the cathedral, which is wide open, and
surround the symbolic tomb of Christ,
which is covered with a huge black vel
vet pail, edged off with dazzling beau
tiful fringe of precious stones. Here
they suddenly cease chanting. All is
still and dead.
But suddenly the thirty-two great bells
of the kremlin begins to toll for the dead
Christ, and far and near the five hun
bred cathedral churches and monasteries
of Moscow answer with their deep-toned
bells.
All the chief members of every Rus
sian family are up and dressed, waiting
this solemn summons; each and all, fur
nished with white flowers, wend their
way to the cathedrals. All are sad and
silent; down the cheeks of many large
tears may be seen flowing one after an
other, in memory of him who died for
then.
The patriarch points to the closed
tomb, and repeats in touching language
the old, old story of Christ's cruel death
on the cross, His agonies, His death and
burial. After which the people lay for
al offerings round about the tomb, and
with kiss after kiss, and innumerable
crossings and knockings of their fore
heads on the pavement, they return az
they came, sad, silent, detected, to their
homes.
Once more on Easter eve at midnight
the priests repair in gorgeous robes,
through brilliantlv-lighted, one might
say almost flaming city, to the great ca
thedral.
The great cannon first booms out, fol-
lowed by all the cannon in the city, then
the great bell of Joan, followed by all
the bells far and near, rings out again
joyous, stirring, laundering peal.
Now all Moscow is up and astir. With
lighted tapers in their hands and robes
of white on their persons, all flock to
the churches, which are closed. Around
them, on small benches, multitudes of
small loaves are laid, waiting to be
blessed by the priests.
The procession is headed by the arch
bishop and nearly three hundred priests,
bearing crucifixes and burning oensers;
these again are preceded by hundreds
of boys robed in white, bearing torches
and banners. This magnificent process
sion marches round the cathedral three
times, chanting with loud voices. After
the third circuit they all halt before the
great cathedral door, which is still closed.
The archbishop strikes the door, then
with censor scatters incense over it.
All at once the doors fly open; the eff
feet being magical beyond description.
Then the immense throng of worship
pers, bearing innumerable ,tapers, form
two lines, through which the archbishop
enters, followed by the priests, choris-
tiers and the vast assembly.
Amid burst of light and song, all fall
PROSTATE and worship, crossing them
selves. Then the holy screen, or mys-
teal door, is hurled back, and 10! the la
minous picture of the risen Saviour
CLEANS upon the multitude with an ex-
preston of divinest pity.
With all their souls in their eyes, they
gaze in rapt wonder and love on that be-
loved face, and cross themselves again
in lowIiest alteration. This done, ethe
whole congregation embrace each other
three times, with the words, "Christos
Vokres-Chr hath arisen," and the re-
ply, "No istine voskres-in truth he has
arisen"
Finally, placing their tapers-em-
blems Of their burning love-before the
sacred eikons, or pictures the multitude
return home to feasting and merriment.
All that week the people kiss and en-
brace each other, cheering one another
just as did the early Christians in the
primitive times of Christ's church, and
their hearts beating and burning within
them at this easter time with the words,
potent to all eternity, "Christos voskres,
Christ hath arisen"