The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-06

Armenians even more national in their
religion
The Armenians have always been sepa-
rated from the rest Of the Christian word
because of differences of theology. The
Greek church, however has strongly i'm
pressed itself upon them, although there
Is an old enmity between the two churches
because the Greeks attempted to assert
ecclesiastical supremacy over them. AL
though the Armenians claim to hold the
views of their forefathers, in other re-
spects, such as organization and ceremon-
lal, they do not differ greatly from the
Greek church. Their spiritual head Is
the patriarch Of Etchmladzin which place
is now within the Russian border, not far
from the northern foot of Mount Ararat
Those who reside in the Turkish dominions
are subject to the Armenian patriarch at
Constantinople
The Russians and Armenians celebrate
Christmas in much the same way, al
though the Armenians this year will prob
ably be interfered with by the Kurds and
Turks, as they were last year, and the
Christmas may be celebrated by much the
same sort of ceremony as was observed
by Herod in Bethlehem in honor of the
advent of Christ.
Christmas as celebrated by the Greek
church means to show the greatest possi-
BILE hospitality toward friends or strang-
ers, rich or poor. The rich, however, show
this hospitality less than do the poor, :ust
as it Is always said that the poorer peo-
pie are those who give most literally to
beggars in every country
A Russian merchant keeps a lunch call
ed zakuska always on his table during
Christmas day. On it are sweetmeats and
fruit and good eatables. Every one Is well
come to enter and is requested to partake.
The bright samovar filled with Russian
tea never leaves it's place and the table Is
replenlshed continually not only during
most of the day, but during the night. OF
course, the merchant goes to church, for
every good Greek Catholic goes to church
on Christmas day.
The peasant keeps Christmas in much
the same fashion. He keeps open house
according to his means, and IL he cannot
afford that he at least has a good meal of
his own. Meat, which is too expensive to
be eaten during the rest of the year. is
eaten on Christmas day. Prayer Is offered
before and after eating the meal, and
everybody goes to the church, which IL
illuminated by the wax candles which are
brought by the worshippers.
The young peasants have a habit of go
ing out on Christmas eve on what Is called
a l1olodievlSa or serenade. Parties of eight
or ten, consisting of both boys and girls.
start out and sing Christmas carols in
front of windows or doors. After the carol
is sung the peasants within give the sere-
naders little presents, or gifts of bread.
sausages or anything edible.
Christmas is however, a festival of only
secondary importance to that of Easter in
the Greek church. Easter is used to cele-
brate not only the resurrection OF Christ
but the birth of nature, and that Is the
great holiday of the year. The Easter GER
emonials are the event of the year, and
for some weeks before, during Lent, the
preparations are begun. The feast itself
is gorgeous, and hospitality is rife, while
religious services are attended by every
one who thanks God not only for the re-
surrection of Christ, but also for the
promise of bountiful harvest from ma
ture, which has just awakened from its
winter sleep.
1t is interesting to note that the peas
ants in Russia starve themselves so much
during the days preceding Christmas and
Easter and eat so much when the feast
day comes that there are large number OF
deaths from overeating following every
celebration Of either festival.