Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-19

cession OF priests and monks from the mon
astery, wearing magnificent robes, preceded
by alargs number Of chanting choristers meet
him at the gate, spriukling holy.wa and
rose-water all over the place. Two officials
from the Russian and Greek consulatea hold
the stirrup on either side while the Patriarch
dsmounts-a token Of the submission OF the
temporal TO the powers spiritual. The Patri.
arch, his suite, the consuls and their staG,
etc.. all retire to the reception-rooms, whore
they are served with refreshments, and later,
q repast. The monasteries Of this vast edi
fee belong severally 10 the Greek, Latin and
Armenian scots, and the guardianship Of the
church is distributed among these three CON-
munitiea, OF which the various sections un.
der their several care are infinitely measured
of. The special chapel OF the Nativity is,
however, common property, and many q
time the question Of precedence in religious
professions has caused the church to be del.
uged with Christian blood, monks aud priests
fighting with bell, book, candles, or crozier-
whichever happened to be most handy or ef-
fective. A strong guard Of Turkish soldiers
is therefore stationed in this monastic for
tress to keep the peace between the rival
sects on the great holy days. At midnight
the service begins, the Patriarch, the bish.
ops, the priests, and choristers in their sac.
erdotal robes and crowns, which are one
blaze Of cloth. Of gold and jewels. Gan.
dies made OF pure wax, Of four feet in length
and proportiouate thickness, are carried by
the clergy, the officials, and every citizen and
pilgrim that is devout enough to purchase so
large q taper. The thousands of tspers
borne by the crowds, the gorgeous robes OF
the priests the brilliant uniforms Of the civil
service the army officers and soldiers, the
countless variety of costumes worn by indi-
viduals from nearly all the different countries,
towns, and villages on earth, the vast and
beautiful cathedral, with its thousands of
chandeliers, lamps Of gold, silver, bronze,
brass, and stained glass, all ablazs with light,
the richly decked affairs, the priceless gems
of art accumulated throughout ages, the mu-
sic, the singing, the constant motion-all
combine TO form a panorama of such won
drous and bewildering strangeness and beau
ty that it is impossible to appreciate 1t at
first sight.
The grand service continues till three
o'clock in the morning. Long professions
wind their way through the crowded church,
carrying huge banners of cloth and gold bear
ing representations Of the birth Of Christ.
During the service, scattered over different
parts of the cathedral but especially near
the DOORS are tables and stands, on which
are displayed for sale relics, rossries, candles,
shrouds bes ed by the Patriarch, and pass
ports to heaven. These placed in the right
hand of the dead, who is wrapped in one Of
the blessed shrouds, are considered infallible
to secure admission into heaven for the de-
parted spirit. Title. deeds to places in heav-
en- are also for sale here. These are sold by
measurement, from mere standing-room
space to the building OF palaces.
Toward daybreak the bells chime out the
glad tidings that Saviour is born. The
monks and priests here embrace each other,
saying Peace Pesce!" and the assembled
crowd do the same. Thus end tine services
celebrating the birth Of a babe that was born
in q manger nineteen centuries ago in the
very place, Bethlehem, on that account ev.
erybody wishing the other peace, goodwill,
and merry, happy, Christmas to all.