The record-union., 1896-05-27

furthest from the Ikonoistas. Sur
mounting the baldachin was an i'm
mepse gold crown.
AT $40 numerous ladies and gentle
men of the court, in brilliant dresses
and uniforms, entered and took their
places, and at $50 the great bell in the
Ivan Tower began to peal, giving the
signal to all other bells. which took up
the peal and resounded throughout the
city. A large number of Bishops and
priests in magnificent robes were in at
tendance.
AS the bell of Ivan Vleki tolled out
the half hour, the male choir, which in
Greek churches in always concealed.
began to intone the TIE Deum. Their
beautiful voices swelled to the tones of
the grand and solemn anthem, and
seemed a fitting Teparation TO the cere-
mony about to begin
AT quarter to nine o'clock The diplo-
matte body and special envoys, headed
by Count de Montebello. the French
ambassador, who in the inability Of the
Turkish ambassador TO be present in
a Greek church, was the dean of the
diplomatic corps, slowly filed into the
sacred building
The choir continued singing, and at
. O'Clock the sound of cheers and roaI's
from the waiting throngs outside an
nounced the fact that the royal party
was approaching. Shout after shout
rose upon the air. drums sounded, bells
pealed and the bands played the ma
tional air. Through the throng was
seen the great dignitaries of state bear
ing the imperial insignia, regalia and
aefsr 154Ii t%f,ti
on richly worked cushions on a table
near the throne.
The first of the imperial party to ap-
pear was the Dowager Czarina, mother
of the Emperor, VINO came separately
from the Emperor and Empress and
their attendants. The Dowager En-
press wore a crown and an imperial
mantle, and was accompanied by those
members of the imperial family who
were not included in the Cars cortege,
and ladies and officials of her court
Immediately after, amid tumuItuOus
shouts from outside the Emperor and
Empress appeared at the door They
We're received by the clergy and es-
corted to the steps of the altar. The
Emperor was dressed in the dark green
and gold uniform of a General of the
Guards, with high boots. The EN-
press was dressed in a silver robe With
a long train, which was borne by four
pages.
Arriving at the altar steps, the Met
ropolitan of Moscow and the Grand
Duke Sergius welcomed the Emperor
and Empress in the holy building. Met
ropolitan of st. Petersburg presented
the cross for them TO kiss, and the Met
rCpolitan of Kief presented them with
the holy water. After bowling three
times before the altar and kissing the
sacred images, their majesties as
cended the steps and took their places
in front of the altar, with their backs
to the throne The scene was one of
great beauty as the imperial couple
stood awaiting the service which was
to proclaim them Emperor and Empress
of all the Russias.
The blaze of gold and silver, the brill
fancy of the uniforms and orders, the
richness of the Russian court; t0iietLe5
worn by the ladies, the sparkling and
and precious gems, the clouds of in
cense rising from behind the Ikouoistas
and pervading the church, the solemn
sweetness of the singing, which now be-
gan again, all contributed to the splen
dor of the occasion. As the Emperor
and Empress entered the cathedral
the choir sang Psalm 102, 'Misericordi-
am ct Judieium CantabO Tibi Domino.
The Metropolitan of st. Petersburg,
as the hymn of the choir ceased, stepped
forward and handed the Emperor mis-
sal, saying: 'GratiaS Spiritus Sancti
Sit Semper Tecum. Amen and bid
ding him read aloud the orthodox
creed, which he did in a voice audible
to all. This was followed by the read
ing of the Litany, with prayers for
Gods blessing upon the Cars Gov
trnment.
The choir then sang God is the
Lord with the response, Lord Save
Thy People,
The Metropolitans of Kief and ST.
Petersburg then assisted the Car to
don the imperial mantle, made of cloth
of gold, lined with ermine, which was
presented on two golden cushions by
court chamberlains.
After donning the mantle the En-
peror assumed the diamond collar of
St. Andrew, the Metropolitan Of St
Petersburg saying: In nomine patria
ct filius ct spiritus sancti. Amen"
Then turning to the altar the Car
bowed his head to the Prelate of Nov
gorod, who crossed his hands upon his
majesty's forehead and said: May the
Lord anoint him with the oil of Joy;
may He clOthe him with power, and
place upon his head a crown Of pre-
cious stones of long life; may be give
into his right hand the scepter of sal
walton, set him upon the throne Of
righteousness and preserve with His
protection the established rule"
Immediately after this the Car re-
ceived the crown from the Metropolitan
of st. Petersburg, and, standing in full
sight of all the people and still before
the altar, with both hands placed the
crown upon his head. Then, taking his
scepter, in which blazed the famous Or
loft diamond, in his right hand and the
globe of the empire in his left, he as
cended the dais and took his seat upon
the throne, the Empress still standing
in her former place.
This was the supreme moment of all.
and. when gazing around the church
and seeing representatives from nearly
every district of this great empire, and
beholding the Gar sitting on his throne
OF state, with the symbols of power
given to him by the highest authority
in the land, one had a realizing sense of
the great power welded by the man
in whose honor this great function was
held
At the moment of taking his seat on
the throne the cannon of the arsenal
thundered forth, the bells rang and the
bands massed outside playing the ma
tional anthem.
The Emperor, after merely occupying
the throne for few seconds. arose. and.