The Evening critic., 1883-05-22
THE GROWING OF THE czAR.
An Interesting Description of the
Ceremonies of Coronation,


The time liked for the crownng of Alexander
Ill as Czar Of all the Russlas is Sunday, May
%, at Moscow. Tho coronation is the most
brilliant ceremony known to the world. 1t is
always performed in the Church of the Holy
Assumption, within the walls OF the Kremlin
at Moscow. The great Kremlin is an octagon
plot OF ground OF many acres ON a high eleva-
tion, surrounded by high walls and fortinca-
lions, ana contains four crown palaces, three
cnthedrals, the headquarters OF the Imperial
Guards, the Governors residence, a uni.
versity and number of monasteries aud
nunnories. The appearance OF the Kremlin
IL very striking, as the walls are white, the
fortincatfons emerald green, tho entrances
rose.tinted and the roofs OF the cathedrals
gilded, the whole forming wonderful COM
bination. The coronation procession begins
to form at the cavalry barracks, four miles dis
tant from the Kremlin.
Early In the day appointed for the ceremony
Sixty heralds, mounted on cream.c .colored
horses, and commanded by master of cere-
monies, appear before the gates OF the bar.
racks and blow a salvo, upon which the colo
mel OF the regiment appears aud asks what
they want OF him. ''rhe Gar commands thee
follow me-" is the answer, and the gates are
thrown open, and the regiment which has
been expecting the summons, gallops out and
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 81. Nicholas, where
the clergy Join the procession; then to the
law courts, where Judges fall In; then to the
headquarters OF the marshals of the nobility,
the stan ofIlcers the several professions, the
governors, the projects, the populations from
every part OF tho empire, the trade guilds,
etc., each body Joining at separate place, and
all being surrounded by the heralds, as In the
first case. The procession goes on swelling un.
III IL reaches enormous proportions, 80 much
so that when the head of II arrives at the
the town,
Arriving at the st. Demetrius gate, thoy ilnd
It closed. The heralds then blow their trum.
pets and the commander of the citadel ap.
pears and demands what they want, to which
the crowd replies:
s'The Gar"
"And what for?" asks the commander.
ITO crown him the most powerful OF the
powerful" is the reply, and the gates fly
open.
The Mciropolltans of Moscow, Kazan, Nov
gorod and Kieff here head the procession,
and, with the deputa;ions from every part OF
the Empire, they advance to the palace and
form in front Of It, These deputations consist
N bssnRa Chinese
cassians, Calmucks, Armenians, Turkomans,
Tartars, Tar11a, Esquimaux, Aighans,,, Bulgarlans,
san snd pfGSnsGinas all Fnns n their Rsr
respective national costumes.
The Metropolltans then advance and call
upon the Gar to come forward, upon which he
appears at the portico, dressed In the uniform
OF colonel OF the Imperial Guards, with the
Empress, dressed as a Russian peasant, on
his arm The instant the deputatlons are
aware Of the Imperial presence they kneel,
and being asked by the Gear what they want OF
him, the Metropolitan of Moscow replies that
their Gar anointed, so that they can return to
their homes and assure those who sent them
that the Gear is verify the Lords anointed,
and that they may obey none but him. Thence
all proceed to the Cathedral of the Holy AS.
sumption, the Gear and the Czarina walking
between the bishops and the deputations.
Arriving at the church the Gear and his wife
are shown to ordinary thrones near those OF
the bishops and the special service fmmedt-
ately begins. After the first lesson is read the
Metropolitans conduct the Emperor and EN-.
press to canopy OF scarlet velvet richly ON.
broidered in gold, the principal figure being
the double-headed Russian eagle. Under
which are the historical throne of the Czar
Vladimir Monomague and an ordinary arm
chair for the Empress, also table upon
which are tho sccptre and crown OF Constan-
tinus Monomachus, a sword and a mantle of
ermine.
The mobiles now advance from the south of
the cathedral, and, surrounding the plat
form, draw their swords and place them at
the feet OF the Czar. The Bishop of Kazan
then asks the Emporer in loud voice II he is
true believer, to which he replies by read
ing the Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed
OF the Greek Church. The Bishop next says:
III there be any of you here present, know
Ing of any impediment for which Alexander,
son OF Alexander, should not be crowned by
the grace of God Emperor and Autocrat OF all
the Russias, Of Moscow, OF Kiefr, of Vladimir,
OF Novgorod; Gar of KaZan, OF Astrakhan, OF
Poland, OF Siberia, OF Kherson- -Taurida, OF
Grousi; Gousadar OF Pskofr; Grand Duke OF
smoiensk S,a Of Lithuania, Of yilhynla Of podo,
Livonia, Of Courtland, of Semigalia, OF the
samooyedes, of Biclostok, OF Corelia, OF Foer,
Of Ingor, Of Perm, of Ttatka, of Bulgaria and
of other countries; Master and Grand, Duke
of IN, the Lower countries In Novgorod,
Rosb, RRostofr, Of f., Jaroslair, Of Bielosersk, of
Metilaff, and on all the countries of the North;
Master Absolute Of Iversk, Of Kastalnisk OF
sovereign Of Mountain ain Princes Sf y TcherSask: a
Master Of Turkestan; Heir Presumptiye OF
Norway, and Duke OF Sleswtck- -Holstein, OF
Stomarne, of Dithmarse, and of Oldenburg-
let him come forward now, in the name OF the
Holy Trinity, and show what the impediment
is, or let him remain dumb forever!'
This is repeated three times, and upon no
objection being raised, he lays his hand upon
the head of the Czar, who Immediately kneels.
AT this point the metropolitan Of Moscow
takes the mantle of ermine from the table and
throws It over the kneelng Czar, saying
'Cover and protect thy people as this robe
covers and protects thee"
God helping" and kissing the prelates hand. hd.
The Bishop Of Novgorod now places the
sceptre in the Czar's hand, saying: 'May
thine hand which holds this wlther the day
thou art unjust"
The answer Isl s'Be It so.'
The Bishop OF Kier then places the crown
Empress kneels beside her husband, who
partly covers her with the cloak OF ermIne,
and also holds his crown above her for a few
seconds, without however, placing 1t upon
The Gear and Czarina remain in prayer for
several minutes amid q deadly silence, and
the instant they rise to their feet bishops,
noples, deputations, clergy and all present
kneel to Them shouting, "Long live the Czar''
The cry is taken up by the hundreds of thou.
sdnds who are outside, the heralds sound
their trumpets, guns are fred and bells are
rung. The Gar commands the people to rise,
and is again surrounded by the mobiles, who
receive their swords back from the. imperial
hands, hands, the Emperor saying: at is thy coun-
1Iyys, nyss, .Da to which hzor,s the ,d noble re,
resumed and the Emperor proceeds alone to
the altar, passing through the "Golden Gates
OF the lconostasini," which are closed be-
hind him, thus hiding him from view. Here,
after partaking OF the holy communion, the
Metropolitan of Moscow annoints his head,
and hands, saying; "Behold the seal OF the
Holy Ghost, may 1t keep thee ever holy" The
gates OF tho Iconostasini are reopened, the
Car appears before them, and is hailed with
SHOUTS OF Thou art verify by the. Lord an
The Empress advances to the sanctuary and
kneels TO her lord, who bids her rise, and they
walk out OF the cathedral arm in arm. At the
door Is gilded chariot drawn by twelve white
horses, into which they enter, the princess,
other members OF the imperial family, foreign
monarchs, guests, etc., entering other state
did on approaching tho Kremlln, and, with Its
new additions, moves slowly through the gaily
decorated town.
According to an old custom, the Cars car.
riage, instead OF being guarded by troops, Is
surrounded by one hundred maidens belong.
white and holiday garlands OF flowers. Court
balls and receptions begin In the evening and
last for fortnight, after which the court re-
turns to ST. Petersburg.