The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-24

cd that call is desired, or that dinner
OF thcater-party is on hand, for IL
means that "Mikel Strokoff' is dead,
and that this is the Russian way of an
nouncing it. The proper thing is to di-
rect n note to the deceased mt his
late residence, expressing regret ut the
death, and wishing that the Kingdom
of Heaven may be the home of the de-
parted.
Every church in Russia has an army
Of monks, who have renowned all
physical effort To make u livelihood,
and when death occurs they go out
and announce TO the immediate ncigh-
borhood the sad event. They prepare
the body for burial. get the under
taker. keep tho candles burning for
three days and nights, read the pray
ers almost continually over the corpse
and see that the tlowers-generally of
porcelain, wax or paper-are placed
just so on the catafalquc. The corpse
is never left alone. and thus the
monks are scrviceable Us watchers.
Many of the monks are professional
mourners, and if the deceased is with
out friends the mourning will DO at
tended to just the same.
Finally the funeral day arrives.
Friends and ncighbors collect ut the
house of the deceased to say their final
farewell. This done procession is
formed. Some proceed before the
corpse bearing candles and crosses.
and to church they go. Every body
along the roads, in the fields, streets,
shops everywhere, seeing the process
sion, stops, uncovers the head, is silent
and crosses three times, whispering
meanwhile some portion of one of tho
numerous church prayers. 1t is an
impressive scene, and all is conducted
in the most solemn. rcvercntial and
sincere manner. The Russian seems
to care little for his life, but has the
most profound respect for funeral
procession.
While the funeral procession moves
some one in it chants the service. 1t
may be in low voice. but it is
chanted. Inside the church the coffin
is laid before the chancel gates, Ia
pers are handed to all assembled, the
Gospel is read. and then prayer is
offered. Something described by the
sacrilegious as "a passport for the
dead. but known in the church as "the
confession of the faithful soul" is
p aced in the hands of the corpse. 1t
is u prayer offered by 5. Theodosius of
Keif for absolution from sin. and En-
peror Vladimir, who was buried with
it in 9S8, made it compulsory in burial
services The priest tells the assem-
bly, TO give the deceased their last kiss,
the coffin is closed, the lid soldered
and it is carried to the grave; then the
priest throws handful of dirt upon
it, eXclaiming: 1.-The earth is the
Lords and the fullness thereof" etc,
the wincglass used for the extreme
JUNCTION is thrown into the grave. to-
gether with some ashes from the
incense, each member of the
family throws in handful of
earth, and in many places a Russian
ladder is erected by the side of the cof-
fin to assist the soul in ascending to
Heaven, after which the grave is filled.
Then the family and friends return
to the house to partake of the funeral
feast. This is frequently interrupted
with prayers and the arrival of beg
CARS. The latter are treated rs guests.
and are given aims besides, so that IA
funeral is an oasis for them.
Those of ample means who bury !
of their families make the !
event one for atoning for their sins.
and have daily mass said ut their |
house for more than month. They |
give to all beggars, and spread a mid !;
day lunch to which all are invited. |
Easter week is observed most sacredly |
by all Russians who have lost MEM
bers of their family. They say requi-
ems and load the graves with candles |
and flowers and coins to make the |
passage of the deceased
easy. -MOScOW Cor LouiSviile Courier
journal.
RnilIiant 4 attn GrhnIau