Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-11-05

-
Sitks. as II has been called ever suica
our occupation. Is al lntersilng town,
and the principal object OF attraction y
the Old Greek church, which stands IN
little square about fCrty rods up the
man stret from the wharf. Built NJ
wood in the form Of g Greek cross, with
byzantine dome rising soove the centre
snd g spire from tue foot OF the cross.
the building bears the appearance of
having been imported direct from some
old Russian town. On large panel on
ne outside, corresponding to the bead OF
The cross. is a painting which mighi
hsve represented either the Ange. Ca
briel or David killing Goliath, for the
onlv figure now disoernlbie Is that OF =
Young man, and whether IL ls sling or
a trumpet in his hand is question
which none csn answer.
But tSe uoss-covered exterior enclOses
& gorgeous interior, for the participants IN
the Greek communion believe IN costly
fittings even more than the followers Of
the church of Rome. The Sunday OF the
Greek church commences on Saturday
night, and st O'Clock Fr. Peter MetroP-
G-EhFs hisE k'-h.hioA hAf trCA VI EhN 'NN-'
malniug blue -blooded Russians, approaches
the edifice, snd. taking from his pocket An
enormous ring Of keys, uniocks the pon-
derous paddock, swings hack the old door.
which looks as it it had seen many a bst, e,
aud rngs what bells If the chime are still
left 70 summon the faithful 10 prayers.
He then retires behind the chsucel to pat
OF the holy yestments, while the four real
Rl=Ssns, tvo Of -hom sre deacOns, aud
some thirty Indians, converted - the
faith, enter the building and kneel down
IL the res- OF the church. The two
desc1ns take their place at the right of ibe
chancel. snd from large parchment book
which lies on beautifully carved lecturn.
commence 10 chant the service The into
rI1r Of the church Is very beautiful, all but
the f0o-. which Is OF hard wood, ana
painted 4 violent chrome yellow color.
Tie walls arc = dazzling white, relieved
only By the numerous small paintings 0;
scripture scenes. before which bang large
:. yer cauGlestIcka On esch side small
chspels G-e parutioEed Of from the msIn
room bv glass doors The front of the
rocn 70 most E0rgeously decorsted-in the
centre. Two heavy doors OF old-fsshloned
gIlt, perforated BY numerous holes IN the
TCr!l ~ s.srs, enclose the chsncel and
altar, on either side Is large panel hold
trE paintinE Of some testament scene,
ard sti! farther TO the side is door. on
the o1e SIDE opening into the holy OF
holes. on the other into the fathers
private chapel. Over the chsncel hangs
ls--p painting Of the Last Supper, par
daily covered, IS are all the pictures, by
eil yer screen. These silver screens are
curl1sf =: whether they are put on IS an
ornsmeu; or d protection. even F.. Me-
tr0pg SKY IS uDaBi: to tell Al Of the pic
turg. keep: the fsces OF the figures, Is
covered by thin sheet Of pure silver,
which stands out from the surface Of the
paiuuug sboU' half an iUcn snd represents
tne either features OF the picture IN reliet.
Thc. e. r.slnly DO not add TO the beauty
OF tie picture, snd ore longs ~ snstch
them q and see what is underneath, for
not ore Ot the pictures in the building Is
ANYTHING bu, masterpiece, most Of them
beng originals In ore Of the chsPels, in
the pGae. Of door, Is Madonna. which
To- dns execution aud conception hiss been
pr1nguncs1 BY competent critics 10 equal
Euy Hsd0nns of the oid masters II Is
destined tor the cathedral 81 Moscow,
vheB, q. no distant day, the Greek church
ST Siika shall be abandoned.
Soon the service is commenced by the
desc1us. who chant almost continuously
for an hour, broken only 10y short res
pcn5es from the priest, who walks back
ward and forward from the altar 10 the
cbsnCel sttps, swinging his censer, and
looking for al the world ike 4 COssack,
vita his keen black eyes, pesked cap, and
long black beard. The menotCnOus chant,
sung 10 3 wsiling tone, keeps on, one Of
the seac0Bs occasionally varying the tone
by a sneeze or & cough, and then ID min
ute or two, the other one takes respite
enough % MI his nOstrlls with snuff, apTO-
ceediug which Is OIJen repeated, probably
rendered necessary by she pronounced
nassi tone Of ths chant At last, when
the listener begins to wonder whether thls
sort Of thing Is done against time, tie
father retues behind the chancel doors,
shuts them, draws heavy purple curtain,
which seems only the signsl for half an
hC,l- or SO more Of religious exercise IN the
snare Of rep lnslve reading. Il fairly
msEes one tired 20 think Of the sQusvs
kneeling on the floor all this time, but
finally his reverence Metropolsky throws
wide open the doors and steps forward
holding al1ft IN enormous bible, mos: e.e-
galtiy bound IN gilt, with medallion port
raifs of the SAINTS on the covers All press
forward % KISS tie book, the priest retires
20 the chsrce,, only to bring forth IN
minute the communion cup, which the
faithful are not permitted TO touch The
service Is then over, a service which con-
IalBs 10 preaching, no e1bOrts.ion TO the
people, and seems 10 consist solely IN
working the religious feelings OF the
people - the point Of kissing the holy
book and viewing the cup.