The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-24
BLESSING THE EAST RIVER.
a Picturesque Russian Ceremony
Performed Ina This city For the
First Time.

Picturesque Russian Ceremony
Performed in This city For the
First Time.
From the New York Evening Post
There was a novel and picturesque scene
yesterday afternoon on the bank of the
East river. The small. but fervent con-
gregation of the Russian church. at No. 1913
econd avenue. celebrated their belated
Feast of the Epiphany in true Russian
style which must have been sweet to the
hearts of all present. In Russia the day
is celebrated all over the land by the cere-
mony of blessing the waters, In commem-
grafton of Christs baptism in Jordan,
either in the church, or. IL possible, Oh
the banks of a neighboring stream or lake.
In st. Petersburg 1t is the one day-wlth
the exception OF Easter-whch Is of first
rate Importance In both the church and
the court life. The great court festival
of the Baptism PARADE or THE Jor-
dan," is extremely striking. After mass
in the Great Cathedral of the winter PAL
ace, a gorgeous procession of bare-headed
priests, banner-bearers and choristers. fol-
lowed by the emperor. the grand dukes
and high officers of state, takes its way
to the Jordan" pavilion erected over the
ice Of the Neva opposite the palace, from
whose windows the empress, grand OUCH
ess and ladies of the court look on. There
is performed the beautiful special serv-
ice which ends with the cross being dip
ped in the icy waters of the Neva, and
the sprinklng of the military banners and
all persons present with the holy water.
1t is safe to say that more thousands of
the populace stand patiently on all sides.
even out of sight of the show, than 80 to
church on that morning.
Last winter at the Russian church's
first Epiphany feast nothing unusual took
place But this year at the vigil service
% a a, 1aa 90 "a
rector announced that he hoped to have
a procession OF the cross to the East riv-
er on Monday morning TO bless the waters.
The congregation consists almost entirely
of poor working people, but the church
was fun at the morning service, the men
outnumbering the women--as in usual in
Russian churches-by about six to one.
But the procession had to be postponed
until o'clock, at which hour Il stared
UP Second avenue. The Russian aud
American flags were carried at the head,
after which came male members Of the
congregation robed in scarlet and gold
brocaded robes, and bearing the great
cross, lights. the images of the Saviour
and the Kazan Virgin, the church ban
ners, the gospels. the large covered basin
Of water, and the image of the Epiphany.
The rector of st. Nicholas church follow
ed robed in purple and lilac cassock and
silver brocade chasuble. He was ac-
companied by two priests who have Just
arrived from Russia, from the distant
government of Vologda Zone oil them Is 10
be stationed in Alaska, the other IN
Pennsylvania parish). who were also e.
rayed in rich chasubles of brocade over
colored cassocks. After them came the
women, followed by the men all barehead-
ed, with their hair streaming in the
strong gale. BY the time they reached
First avenue the sidewalk escort was
large, and many were the curious COM
ments and inquiries. The police barred
the crowd OF when the procession, sull
chanting the Epiphany hymns. reached
the appointed dock at the foot of East
Thirty-second street.
The ceremony was extremely picturesque
and touching. disturbed only by the oc-
casonal shrek Of a tugboat or the whis-
tie of a passing craft AS there were no
facilities for reaching the waters OF the
East river. the priest blessed the water
which had been brought from the church
and sprinkled the river with this and
poured a cupful into II after a very hap
PLY worded address. For the first time,
he said. had this ceremony been perform
ed In New York. Standing as It were on
the boundary line between two worlds, the
old and the new II was a most interesting
occasion for all present who loved the
old world but had come to cast their lot
In with the new. He hoped that the wide
ocean. far from being an obstacle TO di-
vide the two might prove rather bond
between them, and be a symbol OF the
union In one faith for all the nations OF
the earth a beginning of the time when
there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
After the ceremony was over many OF
the Pensioners not only drank again OF
the water. as they had already done at
the blessing after the moss for those who
could not come TO the river, but carried
Off large bottles OF II 10 their homes. Then
the procession wendell its way back 10
the church. The older people may survive
the exposure. but IL will be interesting to
learn the fate OF the very young baby
whose mother brought II to the vigil SER
vice. the mass, and the blessing Of the
East river!