The morning call., 1894-01-06
GREEK CHRISTMAS
Russian Catholics Now
Celebrating 1t.
This Mornings Services VIII Be
of an Elaborate Nature, With
Specially Prepared Music.

To-day is Christmas. according to the
Julian calendar in use in the Grace Rus
sian or Eastern Orthodox church, and it
Will be celebrated with all the splendor
permissible in a cathedral of that ancient
rite.
Minor services have been held for sew
eral days at the Russian church in antici-
patton of the approaching feast. The in
terror of the edifce has been profusely
decorated with wreaths and streamers of
cypress, palms and ferns. Silver stand
ards bearing lighted candles are placed
throughout the nave. and in the vicinity
of the sanctuary the main chandeliers, in
stead of being lighted with gas. are filed
with burning tapers, which shed dim re-
iiglOus light over the church.
Many of the congregation on entering
procured very thin candles. which they
lighted and placed on the silver standards,
making many genuf1ectiODs. Hundreds Of
these were ablaZe all over the church be-
fore the many different shriDes.
Services commence d at o'clock yester-
day corning with solemn celebration of
the great royal house. At this service the
fypica was followed by the "Proclaimiug
of long life and welfare to the Most Chris
tian Emperor, Alexander III of Russia,
the great defender of orthodoxy, with his
household, all other kings, princes, the
most reverend patriarehs, metropoli-
tans, arch bishops, bishops. clergy, the
people and the President Of the United
States"
Right Rev Bishop Nicholas oficiated as
celebIant at the services and was assisted
by Fathers Grinkovich and Sebastian and
Deacons Basiiis and Mordistroff The
Bishop was dressed in Vestments Of cloth
OF gold, heavily embroidered. On his head
lor nit
broldered with gold braid and frightened
with precious stones. His crOZier was
borne by an acOlyte and was heavily
draped with white damask. The robes of
the priests were less magnificent than
those Of the Bishop. but were still very
EiCh.
AT noon vespers were sung with the
afturgy of st. Basil the Great, the Bishop
and priests who officiated at the morning
services taking part in this.
The evening services partOok mainly of
the nature OF the vesper service in the
Roman Catholic church. A dais was
erected In the center OF the church, and on
this Bishop Nicholas stood while he chant
ed the services. The assistant priests,
deacoDs and acolytes stood in a circle
around, and in conjunction with the choir,
made the responses TO the Bishop
AS the services progressed the air be-
came heavy with the Odor and the smoke
Through this cloud of smoke the Bishop
and priests moved from the dais to tbs
sanctuary and back
During the early part Of the services an
RcOlyte passed through the congregation
bearing a silver saIyer containing small
pieces of bread. These had been previous
" blessed, and were used 10 typIfy the
parable of the lOaves and the fishes. All
of the congregation partook OF it, blessing
themselves and then eating it.
When the Bishop read the Gospel the
scene was most impressive one. The
holy book, massive affair. bound in sill
yer covers studded with Jewels. was held
before him by the priests. AS he slowly
read the Gospel great clouds of incense
6oated through the air, from censers
swung by the acolytes. At its conclusion
the book was placed upon small stand,
the Bishop left the dais and kissed the
door in front OF him. He arose. kissed the
book and closed If, and then kissed
the holy relics in frame lying on an ad-
joining table. The priests, deacons and
Rcolytes did likewise.
The congregation then came forward
and repeated the ceremonies of kneeling
and kissing the book and relics. The
Bishop again stood on his dais, and as
each person came forward he was
anonted on the forehead by the Bishop