The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-28
THE ASSISTANT PRIESTS.

sl'afe 1lme. Recently 1T was found nee
essary to establish another church in the
quarter, SO the Church of the Most Prec-
ious Blood was dedicated in Baxter
street, near Canal.
one OF the assistant priests, Father
Iremey, is an unusual man. He lives
III one Of the tenements and has garden
on the roofs of the adjoining shantiea
lie has little printing press and half
dozen fonts Of type, and he turns out
all the literature necessary to spread the
news of the church. He plays the organ,
sings magnificently, doctors the sick,
and makes cordial out of the leaves of
6he geranium plant, which he calls the
San Joachim cordial. He makes a gill in
ten minutes, and 1t has fine mellow
flavor, even when drunk on the same day
it is made.
Ii is here that the Italians of the city
make their devotions on Faster Sunday.
On that dsy every woman and child goes
to the church dressed in new clothes and
carrying q little oruoi1lx. The poor,
cheap altar will be beautified by flowers,
OF the parishioners, as outward display
forms no part Of the italian Easter.
A FESTIVAL IN LITTLE RUSSIA.
Then Russia makes great deal Of
Easter, and while the religious signifi-
canoe of the season is not sighted it is
more Of a festival with them than with
any other people. They go to the Greek
churches in the city and on Easter each
man, woman and child carries little
wax candle. At the door of the church
the candle is lighted, to typify the en-
trance of Christ into Jerusalem. The
Russians at Raster time not only cele-
brats the resurrection OF Christ, but also
the awakening of nature after a six
months' sleep, and they make of it one
OF the greatest holidays of the year.
During the six weeks OF Lent the Rus
slams, who are very observant of the rules
Of their church, ..have lived mostly on rye
bread, potatoes, oucumbers and weak tea,
and are longing for Easter to make up
for lost time.
The Easter table is set on the eve of the
holiday and remains SO for three days.
In the center is placed large Klurtsob. y
q cake that is sometimes three feet high
and is decorated with pink flower, as
symbol of spring. The 'Paskka,'' very
sayory dish made of cottage cheese, eggs,
butter, sugar and spices, is as indis-
pensable to the Easter ia bles of the Gar
as of the Russian peasant.
A quantity of hard boiled, colored eggs
ham and brandy, as we'll S gingerbread,
candy and nuts, complete the whole.
Anybody who makes call during the
Easter week brings an egg and receives
one In exchange ana is obliged to partake
Of the dainties that are on the table.
A priest is usually invited to bless the
Easter table and to sprinkle }
"Klurtsoh" and the "Paskka'' with holy
water. On the eve OF the holiday, little
before midnight the people, young and
old, dressed in their best, start for church
where is held the greater Easter service.
AS midnight approached the hum of
the voices gradually ceases till, as the
clock strikes 70, all the bells suddenly
in his hand lighted taper, and these
thousands of little lights in and outside
the church give the whole scene curl
GUS picturesqueness.
"Kristos's Vosskress - (Christ hath
arisen) says one friend to another, and
the other replies: "Voistine Vosskress. -
(Yea. verify, He hath arisen). Then they
kiss each other on the right and the left
cheek alternately.
At the Church of the Transit guration
in West Twenty ninth street, better
known a" The Little ChurchssAroun the
Corner, from which all the famed actors
and actresses are married and buried
will be found those of the stage
folk who are religiously inclined on
Easter Sunday. Recently the quaint,
rambling church was ornamented by a
Itch" gate after the old English style
In the language of the ancient Anglo
Saxon, 'slich" meant corpse, and the
fundamental idea of the ''lich" gate is to
provide resting place at the entrance
of the church yard for the coffin and give
the pail bearers breathing spell
Actors and actresses are more religious
than most people give them credit for.
They have always made it point to go
to the Little Church when in the city at
Easter time, and with their fine clothes
make a brave showing.
One of the oldest congregations is that
OF the little boating chapel for seamen,
tied to one Of the South street wharves.
Fashion does not count for much there,
as Jack knows little or nothing about
the changes of styles and cares less. Out
OF the large number of seafaring men
who are always in the city there are al
ways enough to fill the little chapel on
Sundays, and particularly on holidays
like Christmas and Easter.