St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-06
THE RUSSIAN EASTER.
Description of the Brilliant Scene at the
Cathedral in Odessa on the Eve
of Easter.
A Dazzling Array of Bishops, Priests, Nil
itary and Oonsuls in Robes of
Gold and Lace.
Ceremonies Which Lasted Until Day
light--A Fast Lasting From FRI
day to Sunday.
Russia's Easter Holiday.

a
of reverence and anticipation. On Easter
eve the sight witnessed at the cathedral III
Odessa was imposing and grand. Inc
cathedral is an immense building, with but
little pretensions to architectural beauty on
the outside. but very beautiful i'll It's interior
construction and decorations. Like most
European churches, it contains no chairs or
pews. but presents the appearance OF an
Immense hall, with Corinthian columns sup
porting the roof and dome. The interior of
Ihe church is entirely of marble. and con-
tains almost fabulous wealth IN precious
stones, gold plate and paintings. The SER
vices began at II o'clock p. NJ, and choir
composed of boys and priests chanted a
solemn refrain at regular intervals until II
O'Clock. when the entire assembly took up
the cry. Christ has risen! The building was
filled almost to sutfocation and each per-
son carried a tallow candle. which was
}ichted at - o'clock. The military of Rus
sia are an important part of every religious
ceremony, and they were out i'll full force
on this occasion. From the main entrance
of the cathedral to the sanctuary passage
way was
KEPT OPEN BY SOLDIERS,
who formed an almost solid line along the
whole distance. This pasSageway was for
the use of the officials and invited guests,
the governor general, the governor. the
foreign consuls, the mility and civil officers
of the city and the elite of the town, as it
was a full dress occasion. The scene at
that part of the church set apart for the few
was a very brilliant one, and priests in gilt
tering robes of gold and lace, the military i'll
full uniform with numerous decorations,
the foreign conSulS Respondent in the uni
forms prescribed by their various countries,
the American consuls being noticeably con-
spicuous by the absence of color in his
dress. At12 o'clock precisely the process
sion of bearded priests formed and moved
from the sanctuary down through the
church amidst the ringing of bells, firing of
cannon and the chanting of the choir. There
were two bishops in the procession, more
than 100 priests and the principal dignita-
ries of the city. They slowly walked down
through the center of the church out
through the main door and around the out
side of the building, then back into the
church. when each man or woman kissed
his or her neighbor, and this kissing is kept
up all through the Easter holiday. it being
no unusual sight to see
A DUSKY DRIVER
come down from his seat and kiss friend
and then drive quickly away. Outside of
the cathedral the scene almost beggars de-
scription. Around the entire building was,
what can only be termed human fence,
living mass of humanity seated on the
ground with baskets and boxes containing
every conceivable variety in the shape of
provisions, bread, cake, eggs, meat, fruit
and MANY articles unknown There were
several avenues having this novel fence,
and as each individual forming the fence
had one, and in many instances three and
four candles stuck into the provisions, and
as all were lighted. the scene was weird
and CHASTITY. These poor people were
waiting for the procession to come from
the church so that the priests might bless
the food they had brought. Many and per-
haps all of these people had been fasting
since Friday, and would not eat anything
until after they had partaken of the blessed
food. The ceremonies lasted until day
light. The cathedral contained the mirac
ulouS painting known as the Virgin of
Kasparoff, to whose Intervention is attrib-
uted the safety of the city at the lombard
ment of Odessa. 1t is the custom for the
precious Kasparoffskaya virgin to be
brought in the month of October of every
year
FROM KHERSON TO ODESSA,
Easter and then embarked with great pomp
upon its return journey to Kherson, the
procession that accompanies it from the
cathedral to the quay being attended by the.
metropolitan and clergy and the Highest
military and civil authorities. Several regiE
mentS OF troops were paraded through the
streets daily during the holidays, the inten-
ton being to intimidate the populace and
prevent them from INDUCING in a favorite
amusement viz: Jew batting, as it is called
Your correspondent was presented with an
intammatory document by Russian peas
ant, who explained that many such were in
circulation and an outbreak might occur
The document denounced the Jews and re-
cited everything that could appeal to an
ignorant and fanatical people. Fortunately
the authorities were Oh the alert and no dis
turbance occurred. At every street corner
were mounted cossacks. heavily armed, and
it was only necessary for three or four per-
sons to stand and talk to draw the attention
of this wild son of the Don. 1t is unnec-
esSary to add that he quickly persuaded
them to move on. This is a great country
for languages. and it is not at all surprising
when one remembers that it is the cradle of
the world. Over near the ancient town of
Kertch, on the straits which separate the
Sea of AZof from the Black sea- is niche
in the rocks known as the
ARM CHAIN OF MITHRIDATEs.
the sovereign of twenty-five nations, who
dispensed justice to each in its own lam
guage without the aid of an Interpreter.
The American consul had novel expert
ence here recently, and as the story points
moral it is worth repeating. While sitting
III his office one morning visitor was an
nounced, and a more poverty-stricken OBJ
Ill H.
the visitor. An old man gray in years, tall
and spare, with a long beard of dirty
white color, a face that resembled parch-
ment, an eye so bright and fierce that it
was not pleasant thought to imagine one
self alone in lonely spot with its owner,
rags from head to foot, and such combi-
nation and assortment of filth and variety
it would be difficult to reproduce. The
visitor entered slowly, bowed several times
and finally sat down. The consul supposed
the man was beggar, and, despairing
OF being able to get rid of him alone.
called in an interpreter, who spoke seven
languages t1uently, and in all of which he
addressed this queer visitor without elicit
ing response, French, Russian, German,
Polish, Turk, Greek and Hebrew. Great
Scott" said the consul, docs the man not
understand any of the languages you spoke
to him." Yes. monsieur lie consul, I I'M
derstand all of them." was the reply in
PERFECTLY GOOD ENGLISH,
''but with your permission, it would be
better to conduct our business in the Ian
guage of the United States, This gentle
maj" pointing to the astonished interpre-
ter, omitted to address me in that tongue.
1t was easy to imagine that the consulate
had caught a tartar. The mans business
with the consulate was the last thing in tho
world one would have supposed it to be
He proved 10 be Persian merchant and
desired the assistance of the consul to
transmit 5000 roubes to sub-consulate in
the Caucasus, and he produced the cash.
The consul expressed his surprise at the
visitors linguistic accomplishments. and
learned in return that the visitor spoke not
only the seven languages which have been
mentioned but all the dialects used from