The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17
EASTER IN RUSSIA.
BY FRED MYRoN COLBY.
THE Russians, as is we'll known.

Church; but no Roman Catholic can
be more devout than a true Muscov-
tie. His religion is part of his life,
and the ordinances of his church are
keptwith conscientious fidelity. The
Slav is fond of amusement. too, and
loses no opportunity to indulge this
propensity. Thus natural tendency
and religious fanaticism alike unite
| to render Easter in Russia festival
of unprecedented joy and pageantry,
which is in striking contrast to the
dismal season that precedes it.
All through Lent and Passion
Week the greatest gloom and solem-
nifty prevail. The theaters are closed,
and dancing and all games prohibit
ed. In Moscow and st. Petersburg,
as we'll as in the little rural hamlets
on the Volga and Dnieper, the same
fasting and religious ceremonies are
observed. Neither flesh, fowl, milk,
nor eggs are eaten during the Lenten
season, and butter and fish only the
first four weeks. Some of the most
scrupulous will not use sugar in their
tea, because it has been clarified with
blood. A funereal gloom character
ICES Passion Week. The people
spend the time in going to church,
and every place of worship is crowded
with devotees. No amusements of
any kind are INDUCED in, and during
the last three days before Easter the
people abstain wholly from food of
any kind. 1t is no wonder that East
er Eve is greeted with expectation
and sensation of relief.
Every Russian prepares for Easter
by taking his weekly vapor bath. In
these baths they sustain heat that
to all but Russians would be nearly
insupportable; and then they rush
suddenly out to plunge themselves
in cold water or to roll stark naked
in the snow.
Such is the force of habit that what
would be death to natives of other
chimes is luxurious indulgence to the
Muscovite. He also buys and puts
on a new suit of clothes; this being
considered absolutely necessary for
the Easter festival. The houses have
all been scrubbed and made clean
during the previous week; and the
Easter gifts are all collected, and a
lamp is Lighted % watch over them.
If one were in Moscow on Easter
Eve, he would find the people gath
ering in great crowds at the Kremlin,
which is palace and church and for
tress combined. There is very little
noise or disturbance, and but few
lights are seen; but the cathedral
itself is one blaze of splendor. No
priests are in attendance; but in the
center of the church stands a desk
with an open Bible upon it, and any
Slav who can read has the privilege
of reading aloud from it.
With reverent faces the fair haired,
blue eyed Russians are continually
entering for their devotions. The
scene is somewhat impressive, as
often an aged Russian peasant, in his
warm sheepskin robe, taper in hand,
takes his stand beside the Bible;
while little children devoutly listen,
with clasped hands, as he reads
! aloud; or perhaps Cossack soldier,
fierce and long bearded, will spell out
with slow patience and affectionate
devotion the sufferings of the Saviour
of the world.
As midnight approaches, the crowd
increases. All classes and all ages
are representative rich mobiles and
their wives, dressed after the French
fashion; well-to-do merchants and
landowners, wearing the pelisse or
big fur cloak, fur boots or shoes, and
the velvet or fur cap large enough to
pull down over the head: the ubiqui-
tious boy; young girls with their gay
ribbons, heavy plated tresses decor
ted with pearls, and their robes gilt
tering the whole length with bright
buttons; white haired old pilgrims
from the provinces; officers in snowy
uniforms; and the university pro-
fessors in their clerkly robes.
These all stand,-for there are no
seats in Russian churches,-and
quietly await the hour of demonstra-
ton. Presently the golden doors are
thrown open from the Holy of Holes,
and the archbishop appears on the
highest steps of the altar, and with
uplifted hand blesses the people.
When the invocation is finished, a
line of priests, dressed in their SOM
bre Lenten robes and bearing crosses,
symbols, and pictures in the life of
Christ, file out of the church like a
solemn procession of mourners.
1t is now twelve o'clock, mid
NIGHT R0Op,f bOopoI bOo,ot koIIs AL