The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-06
FEEDING THE DEAD.
Curious Religious Custom Which Exists
in Servia.

Curious Religious Custom Which Exists
in Servia.
The SerTians are good eaters. They eat
heartily daring their lifetime, and Il would
seem that they are expected 70 continue
eating even after they are dead and buried.
/ assisted 81 3 solemn requiem for the re-
pose Of the soul OF General HorxatoTitch.
Some time ago Mr.. Mcclure died IN Bel
grade. This gentleman vas one OF the
most prominent English friends OF Servis-
IN le16 be joined the ambulance service OF
the Seryian srUy and gradually became 50
en2mored with the Serbian people that
When the second Wsf broke out, he Shout
dered gun and fonght IN the SeEyian
ranks against the Turks
In token Or gratitude and respect for the
memory OF this Enslishna1 the whole OF
the cathedral choir, the Metropolitan and
fourteen priests OIIiCizteG gTaEuitouSIT 81
requiem he'd Tor the repose OF his soul
he enurcl was crowded With SYN pathetic
people, and these ceremonies were rem
deTed IN the Cathedral OF the orthodox
chuTcas n spite q the fscE that Nh
Aael1re was 3 Presby terrain This speaks
vel Tor the Greek church Considering
ne honor which h.1 thus been rendered
20 M E-coIarrTEal- Il seemed that
the least / could DO wss 20 ioin IN the hon.
sge nov paid 70 his former commander.
The cerTl21 general and he7o. Thus I
found myself n the cathedral. standing
amid the friends and admirers u the gen
eral, and, Ike them. holding II nv hand :
burning taper, which ! take T. was en-
oIeuatic o. the living soul OF the dead.
he priests stood around = small circular
table dEaped WIKI blsck. and on Il Ezs
placed what seemed % ne 10 be myste-I-
o1S sort Of dish. The priests chante6. the
choir responded from : gallery above with
slew. sad. Delodious music, while the
crowd stood with bowed heads. silently
holding their burning tzDers At last. a.
the end Of the Ceremony. the prieSz. taxing
5 decalter. poured some red vine out ID
the form O = cross over the dish that 80
kee1ly awakened my curiosity. Then an
attendant came round with = t-zy. N which
we each ex1lEuIshei sni deposited cur
candles. BIZ this tine the disa had bsen
removed 10 the door OF the cathedral. where
il vas held By one OF the relatives CT the
late ge1e-z1- One By one the crowd fled
past the dish tooS Up the spoon aai heIpSd
themselves 20 : mouthfuI.
Naturally l followed suit and found that
Il consisted o. boiled wheat. Sweatened.
strongly Favored with spices and lOzs-eued
Win vine. This, L appears vas the fool
Eo- the 6sS6- When iuQuirs<f y hzt would
&c done with = nat remained n the dish I
vas informed thsE = would Be taken 70 the
cemetery and pr o. the zraTe- Just =
the I16izu : buried with his bow ard a.
roE, 50 that he may be fully equipped for
the happy hunting Esl1s- 80 the Ssrvzi1 =
provided with food oy his loving relatives
for Ms long snd la<s lozruey 70 the N
known and whence 10 Traveller returns
Naturally this savage, Iko1zh u0et-c
Practice has 6sel tempered By TIE reason
that s11cStlo1 and civilization brings
Eooc-21d food q al So-tS-nezss, cakes,
Gun. pastry and vine-is taken 70 the
s16 brought 70 ths grave OF Ehs
departed The vine Is Sill poured over
the grave n The shape OF the cross; bZt
instead o. wasting the food By leaving II
10 On the ground The persons passing Ey
axe invited 20 s2t Tor lie reV-0ss q the So1l
o. The departed Thus, especially On SAT-
u76sys, ~hea many persons visit TIE graves
% lost relations. = great number q poor
people Eoek 20 the cemeteries and there,
4 memory q the dead, are given al s3rLs
OF food
And IL would be coas5de7eS . very bad
omen 70 hrlng baek any q the food - the
hoCS@s the loU-Es-s are always eager 70
S1d PERSONS Eho VII sccsU. EhzE they
have taken 20 the cemetery.
First they give ~ their friends, who only
take Do1EafGI OFT q courtesy, and then
help literally any pso0r person Who nay
e g. hand Thus, II manner Witch does
aOs pa1PerIze O. hunl1aEe, are Fhe Poor
relieved n honor OF the dad There l.
much 20 y sid n favor o. this custom
4 howl az sse~ed wheat OF plsssiul o.
mutton chops may lot Sssn 8 posEsc2l Is
: wrath g covers. but they Confer 81
equal honor q the dead, while Ehey S-e
Infinitely more CSsEGl 20 tEs LTz1z.-Palla-
1Slp1Iz Telegraph