Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-11-29
ALIX The CZlR'S BRIDE.
Superb Wedding Ceremony
in Russia's Capital.

With Imperial Splendor the Young
Couple Were Married Before Kings,
Princes and Dukes in the Marble
Winter Palace at st. Petersburg
Scenes and Details.
ST. Petersburg, Nov. 27-To the
thunder of great cannon, the strains
of a thousand bands and surrounded
by glitter of precious jewels, cloth
of gold, gorgeous uniforms, worn by
all the princes of Europe, and hun
dreds of superbly gowned noblewomen,
Princess Alix of Hesse-D -Darmstadt
became the bride of the Romanoif.
Gear, Nicholas II. The ceremony was
performed by the Metropolitan of st.
Petersburg, and all the dignitaries of
the Greek Church, in the famous
white marble palace.
From the AnitchkoR palace, Nicho-
las and his suite, the Prince of Wales,
the grand duke Sergius, the King
OF Denmark and King George of
Greece, arrived at the winter palace at
ten o'clock. Two hundred guns from
the fortress of st. Peter and Paul
across the river Neva, doomed their
welcome.
A whole army corps of troops under
Duke Serge filled the streets, and mill
tary bands all over the city took up
the national anthem, the music swell
Ing until 1t f1oated in a great volume
over the whole.
An hour later Princess Alix, at
tended by the Princess of Wales, the
Czarina, the Princess Henry of Prus
sia, the Duchess of Wurtemburg, the
Grand Duchess Xenia and a suite OF
two hundred noblewomen entered the
palace. A magnificent procession then
formed, in which every court of Eu
rope was represented, and filed slow
ly through the palace to the cathedral
When the procession reached the
cathedral, at the extreme end of the
Alexander Platz, 1t was met at the en-
trance by the Metropolitan of st.
Petersburg, the Holy Synod and the
court clergy bearing crosses, holy
water and the sacred books.
The Metropolitan conducted the Car
to a position upon a dais which had
been placed in the centre of the chan
eel behind the rail.
AS the Emperor took his place at the
right of the dais the Czarina led the
Princess Alix to him and placed her
at his left hand. The Czarina then
took her place in the chancel at the
right of the dais, and the marriage
service in use in the orthodox church
was begun.
The ceremony was of the most i'm
pressive character and lasted nearly
two hours. After the Psalm the Met
ropolitan said a few words of instruc-
tion and turned to the Car and said:
I
unconstrained will and firm deter
mination to take unto thyself this
woman ,Alix, whom here thou seest
before thee?"
To this the Gar answered: 81 have,
reverend father"
The Metropolitan then asked: Thou
hast not vowed thyself to another
bride?"
The Czar answered: II have not VOW
ed myself reverend father"
The same questions were asked of
Princess Alix with similar answers.
After prayer the Metropolitan took
two crowns, placing the first one on
the head Of the Gear, saying:
THE servant of God, Nicholas, is
crowned for the handmade of God, Alix,
in the name Of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost"
Placing the crown upon the head of
the bride, he said:
THE handmade of God, Alix, Is
crowned for the servant of God, Mich
olas, in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost"
The prelate then blessed the couple
three times. After anthems and pray
ers the common cup was brought and
blessed. The cup was filled and handed
first to the Czar, and then to the
Princess, each taking sip of wine.
The Metropolitan then took the
couple by the hand, the groomsman
and bridesmaids walking behind and
holding the crowns over their heads,
and led them three times around the
dais, the choir meanwhile singing a
troparion. The prelate then took the
crown from the Gear, saying:
BE thou magnifed. o bridegroom,
as Abraham, and blessed as Isaac,
and increased as Jacob, walking in
peace and performing in righteousness
the commandments of Cod" Taking
the crown from Princess Alix, he said:
"And thou, o bride, be thou magni-
fled as Sara, and rejoiced as Rebecca.
and increased as Rachel being glad in
thy husband, and keeping the paths
of the law, for God Is well pleased"
The Car then kissed the bride and
the guests came forward to congratu-
late the couple. At the conclusion of
the congratulations the dismissal was
pronounced and the bride and bride
groom and the wedding guests return
ed to the Winter palace.
AS the procession entered Field Mar
shal hall there were cries of Long
live Emperor Nicholas
Hn1unnInis Trial Rnnun