The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-28
A RUSSIAN SAILORS FUNERAL.
Peculiar Obseauies for ynriae Sea-
man In PhiIadeIphia

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27-Timotheus
Tschnparnoff, formerly a sailor on the
Russian cruiser Variag, was buried from
the German Hospital yesterday morning.
The services were according to the Greek
Catholic Church, and were conducted by
Father Vassian, Of this city. Lieutenant
Lyons and a squad of police from the
Twentieth and jefferson Streets station,
the Russian officers from the Variag, and
the Russian Consul w. R. Tucker, at
tended the funeral and marched in solemn
procession with the bier 10 Glenwood Gem
etcry.
The funeral services we're held in what
is known as the dead house in the German
Hospital. Promptly at $3.50 o'clock the
doors were swung open and some twenty
Russian sailors, preceded by Father Vas
sian, marched into the building. There,
in the centre of the ROOM lay the coffin
covered with white satin. and on each side
was the cross of the Greek Church. The
body was decorated with palm leaves and
flowers. The foot Of the coffin rested near
huge altar which had been erected es-
pecially for the ceremony, and beside it
was the priests dressing table.
One of the Russian sailors opened the
services by chanting in a clear bass sew
eral chapters from the Greek Bible. At
God have mercy on US" in the Russian
tongue. This portion of the service lasted
some thirty-fve minutes. during which
time the priest was busy attiring himself
In this he was assisted by all OF the TWEEN
ty sailors. each helping him in some small
way
Father Vassian first put on long. dark
blue robe, then one of shimmering silver
was handed him. Over this he put very
-fi rob. Oft 10 Ia
border was of gold braid nearly four
inches wide, and in several places were
Grecian crosses worked in gold Another
sailor brought him girth another a cuff
another a collar, all made OF green and
gold. This costume, coupled with the
priests bushy beard and long. wavy hair.
presented a curious and bizarre effect
When the priest was fully robed he
carefully took all the articles from the
communion box on the altar, while one
of the sailors was preparing the incense
There were fifteen pieces in the box, all
of solid gold and solid silver. OF these
but two were used in the ceremony
proper-the others decorated the altar
These pieces, however, were of curious
designs; some were shaped like daggers,
BELLS spears, swords and axes, and al
bore the Grecian cross.
The arrangements completed, the priest
mourners. Facing his altar, he COM
menceG a most impressive respon sive
chant. In a powerful voice he Numbered
two or three lines in Russian, and the
sailors. at first softly, answered in a
longer and almost perfect chorus This
chorus increased gradually in volume, and
at the end Of some twenty-five minutes
had reached the height of its strength.
The sailors, most all of whom had heavy
ha oh nj ftri-
ously, and the sounds could be heard far
away.
AS It ended Father Vassian offered a
prayer. Then the incense was swung by
the priest. Another prayer and a SINCE
bass solo by one of the sailors completed
the services in the dead house.
The procession was formed. Along Gil
rard Avenue a hundred Russian sailors
and fifty policemen we're stationed. Father
vassian and Consul Tucker marched from
the dead house together. directly in front
of the coffin. The latter was borne by
six stalwart Russian sailors. The funeral
procession was then formed. The Rus
sian officers, including Captain Behr,
Lieutenants Vanileff, Portelnisoff. and
Kovank, Chief Engineer Leysoff. Assist
ant Engineer Rodnine and DR.. Youck,
marched down Girard Avenue at the head.
Then came the mourners' carriages and
the hearse, while the rear was brought
up by the mounted police The procession
was long and curious to Philadelphia
eyes.
The grave had been dug in the Gene
terry, and just as the coffin was about TO
be lowered Immediately after last pray
er by Father Vasslan. all took hats off
and sang the Russian national hymn.
Tschnparinoff, in whose honor the serv-
ices we're held, was & sailor on board the
Russian cruiser Variag, now stationed at
this port He was stricken with typhoid
fever and was admitted to the German
hospital on January 16. He died six days
later. He left a widow. who was unable
TO attend the funeral. He was twenty
seven years old and was born in Moscow,
Russia