The morning call., 1893-04-09
A GLARE OF GOLD.
Easter Celebrated in the
Russian Church.
CHIMES AND SOLEMN CHANTS.
In Georgeous Vestments Bishop Mich
oIas Presides Over Representa-
ton of the Resurrection.

Precisely at u o'clock last night the bells
of the Russian Church on Powell street,
near Union, began to ring forth success
sion of joyous peals that spread over the
atmosphere ike Christmas chimes.
1t was the announcement of the begin
ming of the celebration of the Russian
Easter, which according to the Julian cal
endar occurs to-day.
Within the church all was light and
brillianey. Every one who has been with
in the little structure knows how gorgeous
are its mural decorations, gold and silver
and blue and silver meeting the eye at every
glance. Last night a thousand candles
blazed around, and the scintillations on the
walls caused them to look like living sheets
of light. Light shone all around. from the
crystal pendents of thelsilver chandeliers,
and broke in a blaze from innumerable
sperm candles on the altar and within the
sanctuary.
The picture was beautiful to one who
loves color, the whole scene sparkling like
the seVen-fold radiatiOns of the prism.
The sounds of the chimes had scarcely
melted away when the Russian Easter SER
vices began in the presence OF one of the
largest congregations that have ever gath
cred within the walls of the little church.
After a Gregorian chant by the choir
Bishop Nicholas, at.ired in purple mantle
trimmed with silver, and wearing magniti-
cent mitTe of gold studded with rubies and
diamonds, came from the sanctuary chant
ing in Greek the words, "Christ Is
Risen"
On each side of him were acolytes swing
Ing eensOrs from which issued clouds of in
cense that spread throughout the church.
Bishop Nicholas paused before bier OF
flowers, which rose in front of the altar to
the height of ten feet On this bier In
miniature sepulcher repOsed representa-
ton of the body of Christ. The bier was
one mass of the most beautiful flowers. and
on its front were the words in Greek.
"Christ Is Risen"
The Russian hierarch chanted in low,
melodious voice, and his assistant, Father
Nicholas,
Greenkevich and Father NitronepOlskY
took uD the sepulcher and carried it within
the sanctuary. This was a symbolic rep
resentation of the resurrection.
As soon as the Bishop proclaimed the joy
full tidlngs, faithful orthodox Russians
crossed themselves, bowed low in prayer,
and each one of the congregation lit long,
narrow, sperm candle, which he held in his
or her hand. Tho candles were held in the
hand, burning all the time till the end of
service, which was 10 continue until 4
o'clock A. NJ
After the declaration of the resurrection
a procession of all the clergy of the church
began, though it was with difficulty that
passageway was made.
Bishop Nicholas threw off his purple
mantle and stood arrayed in one blaze of
silver, his vestmentS being specially made
In ST. Petersburg.
He is a large and handsome man, with
fine intellectual face, great dark eyes, and
a beard black ravens wing reaches
down to his chest. With his golden-fretted
inter glistening with gems, and his gor-
geous silver habiments chanting in a
sonOrous voice the hymns of Easter, he pre-
SenteQ magn iticent picture.
Behind him followed the clergy of the
church. Then came the choir of boys and
men, and last came number of small girls
attired in white, strewing flowers as they
went.
After traversfng tho church the process
sion once more reached the sanctuary, and
the long services If Easter began as far as
the ritual was concerned. The choir was
conducted by Arcfdeacon Soboleff, whose
sonorous bass was one of the features of the
singing.
There was no music to accompany the
singing, the melody being that of pure
voices alone. Those who heard the chant
ing of the choir were rewarded with a treat
that paid them for remaining after mid
night
Then followed the reading of the Gospel
in Russian, Latin, Greek, French and En-
gllsh, which took up considerable time.
The candles ia the hands of the congre-
cation continued to burn and when they
reached the fnger-tips fresh ones were O b.
tained. Still they stood patiently. there be-
ing no chairs IN the church, while the
lengthy ritual went on.
The impressive ceremonies were to last
until o'clock, and when the Bishop con-
cluded his last chant of Christ has Risen,
the congregation was to come forward and
kiss him. Then each in the congregation
turned to his or her neghbor. and kissed
each other saying:
Christ has risen indeed" After the
conclusion of the religious ceremonies, the
entire audience were to be invited into the
Bishops parlors and provided with a sub
stantial collation..