The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-20

hrNfeu ny OrthodoN bettcNcrs.
NEW YORK. Jan 2O-No less tur-
hid than usual were the waters Of
the East River yesterday afternoon.
The nl-favored current swept as sullelly as
ever around the island OF the lawbreaker
and past the island Of the maniac. It's
noisome surface even gave up he usual
number Of dead TO the Bellevue Morgue.
The river was ungrateful, for it had been
blessed with all the solemn pomp pertain
ing to the ceremonious ritual OF the Rus
sian Orthodox Church--an ordnance uRus-
ual here and rarely seen this side OF St
Petersburgh.
1t was a quantity picturesque procession
that passed through the teeming life OF the
East Side before the river was Diessed-a
pretty bit Of Eastern ecclesiastical pagean-
try transplanted amid the tenements Of
New York The march began at the Rus
sian Orthodox Church Of St Nicholas, in
Second Avenue. below Nineteenth Street
il was called the procession OF the cross
AT its head floated side by side the flags
OF the United States and Russia, followed
by the brilliant scarlet and blue banners Of
the church. Then. borne aloft by Russians.
robed I'm rich green brOcadC with trim
ming OF scarlet silver ami gold. came the
gilt framed holy pictures of Christ. the Di-
vine Mother and the saints, end Iepresen-
tations of Christ's baptism ard the Resur-
Tection.
Escorting a huge cross and galaxy OF
ecclesiastical images marched a batta ion
Of stalwart fellows, coatless, bareheaded,
and sunbrowned, whose steady, pracused
tramp proclaimed them Of the church mill
t0nt. They were sailors Of the imperial
Cars navy. members of the crew Of the
cruiser Varyog. or Viking, recently
launched from Cramps shipyard, in Pnila-
dClphia.
AT the head Of the detachment Of dis
tuguished clergy, next in line. were
Father Iya Zodkon, assistant priest Of the
Russian Church. and Father Michael
Husan. an Arab. recently ordained by the
Bishop Following them came the Rev
Alexander 4. HotOvitzky, rector OF the
Russian Orthodox Church, OF New York.
and Father Gebe. the Hungarian orthodox
priest from Bridgeport, Conn; the Rev
Archmandrite Raphael. OF the Syfo-
Arabian Church. and his deacon. All We're
richly CARRIED in the luxurious vestments
Of their rank. cloth Of silver, purp-c and
6ne linen. All wore the special purple
velvet berettas and the mltres OF their
ecclesiastical rank in the church Of the
great white Car
marched with solemn mIen and bowed
head the Right Rev Bishop Tikhou,
Bishop OF Aeutia and Alaska, and head Of
he Russian Church in America The
jewel5d golden mitre upon his head
CLEANED like some tinsel toy OF s-agClaUd.
The long, blond locks Of bis hair and beard
rested lightly on the white satin and silver
bTOCaJe OF his yesmCnts. He was
patriarchal, majestic, even amid those
strongly uuaesthetic Eas- Side surround
iugs. Beside him vested acolytes bore
along the Episcopal double and triple can
die. symbOliCal OF the dual nature OF Christ
and the Trinity.
Behind this brilliant company swarmed
a motley throng, some devOut as befitted
the men and women Of the Russian and
Syro-Arabian parishes, others open
mouthed and staring-peddlers. sweatsh0p
slaves. the outpOuring Of the hive-likc
East Side tenements. Many knew not what
81 all meant, but there was liule sacri-
legious levity, after all. Even the most
sto,id intellect recognized something
vaguely sacred in the ceremonial
From the church the route led them
down Second Avenue to Fourteenth Street.
thence through Avenue 10 Sixteenth
Street and the East River. and all along
the line were open windows, bareheaded
women and children. and running and
yelling urChins. who saw in this Eastern
pageantry some new and strange fantasy
OF Mardi Gras.
Ii was he feast Of the Epiphany the Rus
SLAMS were celebrating. With the East
River substituted for the Neva. they were
doing their best to simulate that great
annual court festival Of ST. Petersburg,
which Is graced by the favor Of the no
bility, the Grand Dukes and the great
white Car himself.
But this was not the Neva. It was the
East River, and circumstances here forced
some slight departure from the orthodox
ritual In Russia all the streams and
springs are blessed. in memory Of Christ's
baptism il the Jordan. and the glad pOpu-
lace descend the slipping banks and drink
Of the waters.
Steep and precipitous piers make the
East River not easy Of access. and its
noisome waters are not pleasant 10 the
taste. SO il happened that clear, pure wa
ter had been carried by one of the priests
in cross-crOwned silver chalice and
when the thrOng looked out across the
river toward Williamsburg the water i'm the
silver vessel was blessed by dipping into it
,he golden cross. according to formula. and
then the congregation and the unholy
river itself were sprnkled with the holy
water. A service Of prayers hymns and
ltdnies was celebrated the lusty voices OF
the Cars sailor men joining bravely in
the Epiphany chorus
After the procession had reformed and
returned to the church the official state
many years, or long life. were pro-
claimed for the Emperor, the imperial fam
iy, the President OF the United States.
the Bishop. the army, and fleet, and all
orthodox Christians
Bishop IikhOn will not come to New
York again for a year. On his next visit
II is hoped be viii cOusecrate the new Rus
sian church. site for which has been pur-
chased in East Ninety-seventh Street. be-
tween Fifth and Madison. Avenues.
When the new structure is completed
the Bishop will reside in New York for
several months each year. The Cathedral
and diocesan seat, however. will remain in
San Francisco, as at present.
4 Six Milton Dollar Suit
DETROIT, Mich. Jan. 2O.-Simon Borge
& Co. OF New York. today began a suit in
,.,t,.g,,,. e. O0o r0o ,,~,f,-4 a. y,ns----. :,