Evening journal., 1897-08-03
WALLED UP ALIVE.
Seventeen Monks Resign Themselves
TO "a Living Tomb.

Seventeen Monks Resign Themselves
90 "a Living Tomb.
The stories Of self-torture inflicted
by religious fanatics in India and the
similar tales which come down to us
from the middle ages are all eclipsed
by actual occurrences in our own day
and in close touch with nineteenth cen
tury European civilization.
The monks of the Greek church are
noted for their insane practices in this
respect, but a recent affair has eclipsed
anything heretofore made known of
their cruelties to themselves and each
other in their efforts TO gain the crown
of martyrdom.
A st. Petersburg dispatch to the Lon
don Daily News cabled to New York
tells the story, and the Russian consul
general in New York as well as the pas
tor Of the Greek orthodox church here
sees nothing in the alleged facts which
they regard as incredible in the light of
their knowledge concerning the prac-
tees of certain OF the Greek church
monks.
The story simply is that II monks in
hermitage of Tirespol, in the province
Of Kherson, deliberately decided TO
cause themselves to be walled up in the
monastery that they might earn mar
tyrdom by this horrible death. They
| presented the scheme TO q brother
monk, and so far from being shocked
at the horrible proposition, he APP
plauded Il as n meritorious act of piety
and self-punishment. lie volunteered,
moreover, TO act as mason in walling his
brethren in their living tomb, and they
accepted his services.
It was not until their mysterious dis.
appearance began TO excite comment
that an investigation was made. Itwas
at first thought they had emigrated
but when the remaining monks were
closely questioned one of them con
fessed that he had helped them TO com
nit suicide in the manner above de
scribed.
There was a descent upon the monas
terry by the police, and when the wal
was torn away at the point indicated
the horrible truth of the story, whicl
had seemed beyond belief, was re
vealed.
A reporter for the New York Worl,
asked Baron Schippenbach, the Russian
consul-general to New York, as to tn
probable truth Of the story, and he said
e "There are at present several sect
I of religious fanatics in Russia who in
? fict upon themselves tortures of tn
5 most barbarous nature. These peopl
= are to be found for the most part in tn
south central part of Russia, and are,
: believe, nominally at least, under th
4 control of the Greek church. Their r.
a ligious rites are frequently so violent
% to come within the law. They frequen
e " cut and slash themselves and evinS
n their religious zeal with similar plea
2 ant practices.
e Il cannot say that the report thi
the monks killed themselves in ord'
that they might pose as martyrs is tru
but / have no reason to doubt 1t.
monk who offends in this way is co
"a sidered an ordinary criminal and pu
4 ished as such. These fanatics, curior
gs ". often lead very active lives, malSil
* their homes in the large cities, whe
b. they try by every means 10 win conver
at to their remarkable beliefs. In son
e cases / have known them 20 do lari
~ business as money lenders"
!. Agathadorus a. Papageorgopulc
"a pastor of the Greek Orthodox chap
naid:
81 have no doubt that the story
/. the Greek monks being walled up
a their monastery is true The religio
en- life Of some of these sects has descend
OF into mere fanaticism. OF course, I
ne most charitable view to take Of sucl
go practice is that these people are suffI
~ ing from mental arrangement. The u
nj fortunate men are, it is true, membs
ne of the Greek church, but the church
&c by no means responsible for their a
H. "The entire Greek church is nomin
ry ly under the head Of the patriarch
Constantinople, but the various pal
of the church are allowed the greatl
. possible freedom in administering tn
n affairs. The monasteries of our chur
NJ arc governed by rules not unlike tho
~ ~ of the Catholic monasteries. The nor
n. live the ascetic lives common to su
In. orders. They dress in the cheap
rd clothing and eat the plainest TO-
IS Isolated as they are, il sometimes hi
he pens that their religious zeal takes
up form Of self-torture. Such practices
~, ne is hardly necessary TO add, have not
~ sanction of the church at large"
--------------
Repairing "A Broken Heart.
re- Up TO the present the reparation
Of hrnl,en henrfs Ens been q nsvchi