The Osceola times., 1888-04-07
PICTURES OF SAINTS
The veneratIon with Which They Ar. :,
garded In Russia,

Toward their icons. as the plciur..
Of the Saviour and the saints ..'
called, the people show the grea,s.,
veneration, and one or more hangs i,
every house in Russia. even in the b,.
mess offices. Whoever enters a s,o,.
or house in which one of these nio,
ures is hanging, must remove his bn
or he is liable to be asked TO do 81
The icons are always covered viii
screens of metal, with the exception a,
the face and the hands of the saint
This is because no man can conceiy.
of the apparel of the inhabitants IN
Heaven.
In the report which was made IN
Queen Elizabeth, of England, bv
George Tuberville, who was sent with
an embassy to Ivan the Terrible, ths
manners Of the Russians are described
in quaint verse. He says:
.'Their idols have their hearts, on Cod th.,
never call
Unless it be Nichola Baugh that hangs agaiuu
The house that hath no God, or painted saint
within,
Is not TO be resortcd to-that roof is filled with
SIM" f'-l 40 81 ass
The numerous icons, covered usual.
| ly with shca,hs of gold, arc studded
with precious stones. as they often are,
give a wondrous richness to the int.
rior of a Russian church, heightened
by the lights that are continually burn.
ing before them. Every worshipcr
buys candle, lights it, and places It
in a rack made for the purpose. before
tho icon of his, fayorite saint. The
prayers are supposed to. ascend to
Heaven on the flames! ssF..
Not only are icons to be found in all
the houses and business places of Rus
sia, but they are frequently to be seen
in little chapels or kiosks m the streets
On tho opposite side Of thc Nevski
Prospect. from tho hotel in which we
lived was ono of the most famous icons
| in Petersburg, the picture of saint
which is supposed to watch over tho
interests of commerce-the patron Of
trade. During the business hours Of
the day, from sunrise to sunset, in fact
the little chapel in. which 1t stands was
crowded with people = merchants
clerks, artisans, laborcrs, and all
classes of tho community who bought
and lighted cnndles first, and then
bowed to pray for prosperous results
in the days trade, each leaving some
contribution for the benefit Of the
church as peace offering.
1t is q curious and interesting sight
10 see the devoutness with which the
sanctuary is approached. Not drosky
driver would pass it, no matter at wha.
speed, without crossing himself with
three fingers and taking off his hat
The same forms nrc rwcticed by all
foot passengers. The street was usu-
ally crowded during the business hours
of the day. hut every hat went of and
every right hand made the sign of the
cross when the little chapel was
reached. All the passengers in the
] street car, and tho conductor and
driver as well. da tie snr,c obeisance.
| TIE morning ,pfter we arrived we
witnessedfrom fhc balcony Of the bo.
t-tel-w what In anvpther- ee,sntsy would
have seemed IA ren,TkTble spectacle,
but in RnsSa.it was ro,nmon. as we
aftcrwatd discovercd.- 1t happened to
4 be the anniversary of the saint that
presides over commerce tho saint Of
the little chapel ! have been speaking
about There was a great Stir carl in
the morning. q commotion such as We
see at home on a holiday; men were
standing about in their best clothes,
women with little ones tugging at their
skirts, and the crowd around the chap.
ell. which was always great seemed
greater than ever.
Soon carriage drove up and priest
with long white hair and beard-for
the Russian priests never cut their hair
or beards-aligh Then band oil
music and battalion Gf soldiers ar
rived, followed by large company oil
priests aud monks. About ten O'Clock
|
bers that traffic was suspended, and
finally procession was formed Mt the
head of which were lot of white-robcd
monks chanting, then company oi
acolytes swinging Incense urns, then
the white-haired priest or metropol'
itan, as he proved to be, came, bear
\ ing in his hands the sacred icon OF the
chapel, being sheltered by canopy
OF golden cloth carried by four other
priests. Behind him came other priests
and monks, then the military band
and the battalion Of soldiers, and
finally procession of people
4 reaching several blocks, not march
ing in column, but hudded together,
and filing the entire street from wall
to wall. During the time the icon was
being brought out from the chapel till
the procession began to move, every
one but the priests and soldiers werc
on their knees in ffc street When il
had reached its place in the procession
all rose and followed.
The same ceremony was repeater
about four in the afternoon, when tho
icon was brought back and deposited
In its usual place. Upon inquiry
learned that, it being the day of tins
saint, the icon had been taken TO tho
cathedral and several other churches
so that the service could be attended
by more people than the little chapel
could accommodate. W. e. Curtis, N
. |