The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-30
FRUITS OF MISSIONARY ENDEAyOR
Natives Who Have Been Reclaimed
and Civilized as a Result of the
Patient Toll Of Noble Band of
.Sitka's Greek Church
and MuscOvite Castic..Othcr Novel
Eentures.



built of wood. is of ancient design and
compares in grandeur with most any
Roman Catholic edifice of the. same
grade and antiquity that we have ever
seen. The church occupies Il quad
ranele, midway in the main U.incoin)
street, facing the bay. 1t is of peculiar
plan, in the form of Greek cross, and
Is painted silver gray with green TRIM
mings. The roof Of the main room
forms q large oriental dome, which Is
surmounted by a gilt cross, also orna-
mented with emerald green. One wing
Is used as n chapel The cupola con-
tains a chime of six bells. 1t is pos
sessed of great wealth in the way OF
vestments and altar furnishings be-
sides ether rich gifts as well as mum
erous valuable old paintings, true works
of art. 1t was dedicated in 1874, when
Teniaminoff, then Metropolitan of Mos
COW, sent rich vestments, plate, pic
lures and altar furnishings, presented
by the imperial family.
The church Is opened to visitors on
steamer days for "a charge of fifty cents,
which goes into the poor fund Of the
parish. By invitation, we Joined the
vice presidential party on its visit. Rt.
Rev. Bishop Nicholas being absent in
Russia, Rev. Father Sobololf court
eously showed us the costly and mag
nificent vestments. plates and the
bishops crown, etc, allowing us to
photograph the same together with the
portraits of the princes and prelates
that hung upon the walls.
IN A GREEK CHURCH.
The interior Is richly decorated.
mainly In white and gold especially
the chancel. which Is raised above the
body of the church and approached by
three broad steps, leading to four doors,
fvV.n sf.f vr,1,t ,tx.IS l..
and richly gilded. Massive candle
sticks stand at either side of the doors
and the screen holds full-length pic
lures of st. Michael and ST. Nicholas
In armor and robes of beaten silver and
with jeweled halos and helmets. Above
1s a large picture of the Last Sup
per-" covered with silver, as are two
others, one ON each side of the altar.
The chapel and the altar in the right
transept are dedicated to st. John the
Baptist. This contains. besides
curious font, an exquisite painting OF
the Virgin and Child" copied from
the celebrated picture at Moscow. All
the drapery, we are told, Is of silver
and the halo of gold So of the paint
ing itself. nothing is seen but the faces
and background. The Madonna is
Kept under glass, but the custodian of
the church removed the glass for our
inspection.
Among other works Of the old mas
tiers. was Abraham Entertaining
Angels" Elijah Receiving Food from
the Ravens" Baptism Of Christ in the
River Jordan by ST. john, Birth of
the Savior" STORY Of the Bible" 1.-The
Four Evangelists," Matthew. Mark.
Luke and John, in separate paintings,
THE Ascension" and many more vaiu-
able paintings donated by Russian no
bility. An odd feature Of the church
pictures Is that of the principal ones
only the faces are left exposed; the
halo and garments being of silver are
bent or twisted into shape.
Across the threshold of these massive
doors into the sanctuary no woman
' may set her foot, and across the inner
ones into the innermost sanctuary, or
HOLY OF Holies," none but the priest
himself or his superiors of the Greek
church, or the white car can enter.
The doors, however, usually stand
open. Although few Russians are left
In Alaska, the car of Russia as tenn
poral head of the Greek orthodox
churches and ninety-two chapels in
Alaska, and the chapels in San Fran
cisco and Chicago at an expense of
$4,000 year.
INVALUABLE RICHES.
The church treasury contains many
rich vestments. jeweled crowns,
crosses, caskets and reliquaries, illu-
minated breviaries and missals with
1eweled and enameled covers. The
bishops mitred cap is a marvel II is
seVerai hundred years old and full
Jeweied, almost covered with emeralds.
sapphires and pearls. The crowns
used IN the wedding ceremony-a pres
ent to the first bishop sent from Russia
~ AIaskaLare also very ornate. as is
the bishops see and the great diamond
cross But the czar's jeweled bible is
equally as attractive. Its silver cover
weighs twenty-seven pounds This
was taken to San Francisco in 1868 to-
{ sether with some of the richest vest
menus or the church, and afterward
stolen by some discharged United
states soldiers, but they were recov-
cred In mutilated condition and re.
: stored to Sitka. We were shown. too
the robe used for the marriage service
ana that used during Lent. and also the
one worn on Easter Sunday. They
were marvels of beauty and elegance
1ndescribable.
The venerable bishop resides in the
long green.roofed dwelling on the Gov
ernOr's walk and there is a small chansI
Of the annunciatlon off his drawine.
room, whose altar shines with MANY
tine silver images.
AT A GREEK SERVICE.
The Greek time here is one day ahead
OF our tine Our Saturday is their Sum
day. our Sunday Is their Monday.
Ineir saturday commences at 6 o'clock
onF FRIDAY evening and ends on Saturday
evening. We attended the Saturday
evening service conducted by Rev.
Father Soboloff and two attendant
priests. These priests are not allowed
to shave or cut their hair and their
general appearance may be imagined
There are no seats-the visitors remain
standing. while the worshipping congre-
cation stands or kneels-and a male
choir Of both men and boys chant in
plaintive tones with continuous repeti-
tion In the Greek language throughout
the entire service. the profundo voices
OF the men singers contrasting strange
" With the piping tones Of the boys.
AS said. everybody stands during the |
service. which lasts nearly two hours.
At certain points the priests kneel and
Kiss the floor. This was repeated sew
eral times by the congregation. Three
times the sanctuary was closed from the
view Of the people by the handsome
folding doors. Meantime the priest en-
ters therein and remains, separated
from his people In earnest devotion
distinctly heard from without. The
congregation appeared to be very de-
vout and undisturbedby the presence of
strangers. Many Of the natives are
members Of the Greek church and enter
heartily into the devotional exercises.
We could not help feeling that while |
pictures, vestments. Jewels. censors,
etc. are In strong contrast to the simple
white Presbyterian mission father
Along the shore. they both represent an
!nnuence more similar in its results
snan the followers OF either faith would
be likely to admit.
on the south side of the church is a
ponderous log building occupied by the !