The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-07
YESTERDAY WAS
THEIR CHRISTMAS
The Greek Church Folk
Celebrated at the
Cathedral.
A Bishop AMI Two Priests
Conducted the Two Long
Services.
Fifty Persons, Incluiing the Russian
Consul, Dined by the Presiding
Bishop.

Yesterday, according to the calendar
recognized by the Greek Church, was the
anniversary of the birth of Christ. The
occasion was fttingly celebrated by the
members of the faith in this City.
In the forenoon there was an elaborate
service participated in by the Presiding
Bishop and the two clergymen, all of
whom reside in the cathedral on Powell
street and Montgomery avenue, where the
ceremonies were performed. The morn
ing service alone occupied three hours.
1t began at 10 O'Clock. The ceremonies of
the evening lasted for two hours.
At the conclusion OF the morning SER
vice in the chapel the Bishop entertained
at luncheon in another part of the build
ing some fifty persons, including the Rus
sian Consul, the clergy of the church, the
members of the choir, the altar boys and
other functionaries. 1t was an informal
Christmas luncheon with Christmas cheer.
Seated at the head OF the long able was
the bishop, tYpicar in his full, bushy, curly
black beard and black hair. In corner
OF the double room stood a Christmas tree
sparkling with its little globes and tinseI
ornaments. From the chandeliers and
against the walls were draped small tri-
blue and red widths running lengthwise
as opposed TO the perpendicular arrange
ment of the three colors in the national
emblem OF France.
Large portraits of the young Gar and
Czarina grouped with a portrait OF the
late Car were surrounded Dy small flags,
for the Gar of all the Russias is also the
official head of the Greek Church.
Few probably are familiar with the ap-
pearance OF the interior of the local Greek
Church. The outside, except for its
mosque-like, almost spherical towers,
painted a brilliant skyblue, and sur
mounted by little pima cles, presents the
appearance OF q large residence, and prob
ably was so intended in the original
plans.
You enter the church proper by hall
way, leading back iron the front door Of
the building and connecting with the
main auditorium only by an ordinary
little doorway through which the congre-
cation passes into the paratively small
church. But that church is cathedral in
miniature. The walls are literally covered
with sacred paintings and gilded altar
furnishings, and bright cloths illumined
by coIored rays streaming down through
the stained-glass window at the altar-end
of the room complete the characteristic
. picture.
Fer the Christmas celebration, which
two weeks longer, the little narrow room
is further decorated and frightened by
numerous wreaths OF pine and ivy twined
with clusters OF red holly berries. And all
about the walls and the few pillars are
draped festoons of green ivy, with here
and there display of large brakes.
In the middle of the room is a very low
platform, surrounded by potted palms.
1t is the throne of the Bishop, who at one
stage of the ceremony rises and extends
the blessing, at the same time crossing two
brazen candlesti cks before him in solemn
pantomime. One candlestick has three
branches and contains three small can
dies; the other has only two.
The altar platform is almost on a level
with the main floor, above which it is
raised only few inches. Back of it is a
low partition, back of which is the vestry.
This PARTITION is radiant with a great
gilded sunburst midway and with paint
ings of Christ and the SAINTS in giided
frames.
And all this church, with its choir of
ffIeen-sOme of them women-with its
vested atari boys and its priests and its
Bishop, is crowded to its full capacity
with little over hundred persons in it.
Bat the hoarse-voiced bell tolls on from
the dome overhead, and the faithful few
gather there to commemorate the ami
Yersary OF the birth of Christ.