The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-06-22
RUSSIAN PRIESTS.
Their Existence One of Misery, want.
Hardship and Toll.


Their Existence One of Misery. want.
Hardship and Toll.
The established religion OF r Rlssia Is
formulated after tho doctrines Of the
Greek church. and the priesthood Of
the empire form unique and entirely
separate class of the community In
which they reside
Their education Is somewhat above
that received in our public schools. but
as the opporiu lity never occurs for
entrance into n university they are not
versed in classical lore. The Russian
priest. or pope. rs the people call him.
is at all times ready for the discussion
OF public questions. but IL he fin Is
himself on the wrong side OF the argu-
ment he will simply smile and walk
away; he thus avoids all feeling Of
anger on either side The income de-
rived from weddings. christenings and
funerals and even collections from
other sources proves entirely inade-
qaate to his wants He can not re-
marry, as the law allows him but one
wife. and should she die he must r
ever remain widower. an unpleasant
contingency 10 contemplate. H.
therefore selects the healthiest woman
he can find. IN the hope of long life
of domestic bliss
Travellers always feel free 20 stop at
the priests house. but the heavies:
burden he has TO bear and ono which
taxes his resources to the utmost Is
the bringing up and suitable education
of his numerous family.
1t often happens that OF re 40 hing
the village placed under his care lie
finds an old. dilapidated dwelling un-
fit for habitation. and thus tho drain
on his pocket begins Immediately.
Sometimes the appearance Of the
lr'est Is the signal for marriages which
have been delayed owing to the proper
functionary not bsing on the spot to
perform the ceremony. In this latter
case the wife and eldest daughter are
expected To attend the wedding. and
it would give the gravrst offense
should they decline the invitation.
They are also expected to appear in
better garb than any of the parish
IOners- This necsssitates the pur-
chase OF new sarafens (petlieoats).
Thus the poor priest IS forced some-
times t. deny himself even ncces-
saiies that his women folks may pre-
sent a respectable appearance at the
village gathering Often the parish Is
small and poor. and the contribution
from the villagers very meager. o ,e
peasant will. perhaps. give kopekas
(2l cents). onother 10 kopekas, but
the merchant usually doubles the
peasants gift
If the priest and deaeons of the
church are on friendly terms the latter
will influence the peasants to assist
the former ia his labors. Bat while no
money Is given in return for the AS
sistance thus rendered. 1t yet entails
considerable expense for vodka
(whisky) aud food. and the priest
therefore. prefers to do his own work
IL possible. During harvest he Is COM
peeled to accept assistance. as the
climate il very uncertain. but the
treatment he receives from the peas
ants Is indeed aggravating. Some
priests 60 Into the busines:
of raising bees. and by thi:
means increase their income perhaE:
Az OF ~ TuOieS per year. AHolHel
source of revenue is the collecting o.
eggs during the Easter season. and
The making of perogs Ga peculiar kinC
OF cake) and buckwheat cakes. fol
which they find ready sale Happy
is the priest If at the end Of the yeal
he finds he can make both ends meet
When old age overt lakes him he be
comes an object of charity.
The Russian peasant has but littl.
respect for his spiritual adviser; he 4
also very superstitious. and believes
that should he meet his priest Will,
walking through the village some evi
will surely befall him. To disarm tht
! bad genius and turn aside the impend
ing wrath he spits on the ground a
he passes the priest This is religious
! " believed 20 be q sure protection
| against all evil influences. The life o
n country priest in the great Russian
| Empire is far from a pleasant one
II represents every possibility bctwsei
the positive and superlative degrees o
misfortune. The Countess Aorraikow
ia Chic,IGo FerGld