The herald., 1896-05-27
Solemn Ceremonial Mingles With
Royal Spiendor
PRINCES AND POTENTATES
Gather From All the Countries Of the
Earth
Ancient Rites Nicholas Receives the
Emblem Of Earthly Power
Asyociated Press Special Wire.

| AOoCOW, May 70. - <COpyriSht
1885. 6.)-His majesty, Emperor Nicholas
Alexandrovitch, autocrat of all the Rus
sias, and her majesty, the Empress AL
exandra Feodovrona, were solemnly
crowned today in the cathedral of the
Assumption with the utmost ceremony
and in accordance with all the religious
forms and ancient rites.
| At Z o'clock this morning the ceremon-
les commenced with a salute Of twenty
one cannon shots, marking the opening
| OF the day, and at the same hour the
bells in the cathedral Of the Assump-
tion began ringing. Half an hour la
! ter the court dignitaries and disting-
uished persons who were to take part in
the imperial cortege began to assemble
In the halls Of the palace and in the
cathedral. The ladies wore court dresses
| and the dignitaries were in full uniform.
The ENJOYS extraordinary, the ambas-
sadors. the ministers plenipotentiary
and the charges d'affaires, with their
wives as well as the representatives Of
the diplomatic corps, assembled at the
palace of the Kremlin shortly after 8
! o'clock and were invited by the masters
OF the ceremonies to repair to the Cathe-
dral Of the Assumption and take the
places reserved for them.
Previous to this an immense body Of
troops had been gathered around the
kremlin and from one end to the other
OF the route followed by the imperial
party in passing from the palace to the
Cathedral OF the Assumption, and from
there to the Kremlin formed double lines
on both sides, those Immediately pro-
tecting their majesties being the grena-
diers OF the palace and detachments
from the various cavalry regiments of
which the czar Is colonel-in-chief The
troops were also stationed in the palace.
officers in brilliant uniforms being
placed conspicuously at all the doors
ana turnings Of the corridors.
A Te Deum was celebrated in the ca
thedral at o'clock in the morning and
after prayers the clergy in full canoni-
calls assembled in front Of the cathedral
to receive her majesty, the ex-Csarfna
Marie Feodorovna. The latter on the
conclusion Of the Te Deum repaired to
the Cathedral of the Assumption, accom-
panied by the members Of the imperial
1anliy OF the highest rank, with the ex-
ception of those who were to take part
IN the emperors procession, and by the
distinguished guests Of their majesties.
:The train of the ex-czarina was carried
by four court chamberlains and the i'm
pcTiai mantle was held up by two court
ofhcfals on each side, the train OF the
mantle being carried by grand digni-
tary of the imperial court.
From the last step Of the Krasnoe
kryltso up to the cathedral entrance.
eight court dignitaries Of the third class
carried the canopy beneath which the
ex-empress walked. and the golden
cords OF the canopy, most gorgeous
construction, were carried by eight
court dignitaries Of the third class.
AFTER leaving the throne hall, her ma
Jesty proceeded to the cathedral. i'm
mediately preceded by two masters of
ceremonies, all three carrying the in
sigma of their office. and by number
or court chamberlains and dignitaries
OF the grand ducal court, dignitaries of
the foreign courts and officials belong
ing to the imperial court, and the whole
party was preceded by two runners.
Iour equerries of the court and an
equerry of the chamber. In front of the
Cathedral of the Assumption her ma
Jesty was received by the metropolitan
or MOSCOW. who presented her with the
cross and holy water. Her majesty then
received the benediction of the clergy
ana was escorted to her seat on the
throne OF the Gar Alexis Mikhailovitch,
wnlch had been placed on a special
mounted by beautiful CANOPY. Their
imperial highnesses the grand duchesses
ana the grand dukes and the august
guests or their majesties took places set
apart for them and the grand master
OF ceremonies of the imperial court sta
tloneu himself to the right of the es-
trade. The members of the military
households of the imperial grand dukes
and of the foreign princes were after
ward escorted to their places by masters
of ceremonies.
AS soon as the procession Of her ma
Jesty, the czarina, had started for the
Cathedral of the Assumption, the high
court olgn1taries who had assembled at
the palace. received the imperial insi.-
MA in the throne hall and took up the
stations allotted to them in the cortege
or the emperor Before the procession
started the grand almoner of their ma
Jestles, bearing a large golden cross
studded with jewels, and assisted bv
swT s,,,1 9eacons, carrying a golden bowl
route which was to be followed by their
maJesties from the palace to the Cathe-
dral of the Assumption.
Inc ex-Empress Marie Fedorovna's
departure for the Cathedral of the AS
sumption having been announced. the
to the throne hall and seated than,1
selves on their thrones A moment LATER
signal announced that the time had
arrived for the departure of the imner-
ial cortege and the latter moved toward
the cathedral. The grand procession was
headed by the chevalier guards of the
ex-Empress Marie Feodoroyna. FoIlow-
Ing were the imperial pages, representa-
yves OF syndics Of rural communes, the
mayors of the leading cities and mem
bers Of the various local governments
presidents of commercial and financial
bodies and of artisan guilds of Mos
cow. etc. These-were followed by Cos
sacks. delegations from the nobility the
senate. the church, etc. The imneriaI
insignia. borne by high court dignitar-
les. including the collar of the Order Of
ST.. Andrew of the Czarina, the sword
the standard and the seal of the empire:
the imperial mantles of their ma aiesties.
the globe. the scepter and the crowns
of the empress and emperor
These were followed by ceremonial
officials preceding the emperor and en-
press walking beneath canopies horne
by aid de camps. After these came
representatives of the hereditary no-
bility. Interspersed throughout were
military officers and soldiers, whose
brilliant uniforms made the Cathedral
resplendent.
AS their majesties approached the
entrance Of the cathedral, the metro
politan of Moscow pronounced the us
ual allocution, the metropolitan Of St.
Petersburg presented cross to their
majesties. the metropolitan Of Kieff pre-
sented them with holy water
The emperor. taking or thu Collar Ae