The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-28
A RUSSIAN SAILORS FUNERAL
Peculiar Obscquies for VariaG Sea-
man IN philadelphia.


PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28.-Timotheus
Tschnparinoff, formerly a sailor on the
Russian cruiser Variag. vas buried from
the German Hospital Saturday morn .nS.
The services were according to the Greek
Catholic Chur,h, and were conducted by
Father Vassi4n. 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 " r Tucker, at
teLGed the funeral and marched IN solemn
/ procession with the bier to GlenWood Gem
/ etcry.
The funeral services were held in what
! is known as the dead house n the German
Hospital Promptly at $50 O'Clock the
/ doors were swung open AM some twenty
/ Russian sailors, preceded by Father Vas
sian. marched into the bu lding- There,
/ in the centre Of the room. lay the coffin,
1 covered With white satin. and on each side
/ was The cross OF the Greek Church Th6
/ body was decorated with palm leaves aud
/ flowers. The foot of the coffin rested near
+ a huge altar which had been erected es-
pGciaIly for the ceremony, and beside II
! was the priests dressing table
/ One Of the Russian sailors opened the
+ services by chanting in clear bass sew
/ eral chapters from the Greek Bible :
I the end of each chapter his comrades sang
+ God have mercy on US in the Russian
( tongue. This portion Of the service lasted
! some thirty five minutes, during which
! time the priest was busy attiriEg himself
! IN this ne was assisted by all Of the TWEEN
( ty sailors, each helping him il some small
/ way
/ Father Vassian first put on a long. dark
/ blue robe, then one OF shimmering silver
( was handed him over this he put a very
/ large and stiff robe of pale green The
border was OF gold braid, nearly four
/ inches wide and in several places were
/ Grecian crosses worked in gold Another
/ sailor brought him sirth. another a cuff.
another a collar. all made Of green and
/ gold This costume. coupled with the
priests bushy beard and long WaVy hair,
J presented a curious and bizarre effect
When the prizes. was fully FObad lie
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. al
! 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 aagSers-
/ bells, spears, swords and axes. and az
! bore the Grecian cross
/ The arrangements completed. the priest
! turned his back TO the coffin and the
/ mourners. Facing his altar, he com
/ menced most impressive responsive
| chant In q powerful voice ne thundered
/ two or three lines in Russian. and the
sailors. a first softly, answered in =
longer and almost perfect chorus This
. chorus increased gradually in volume. and
/ a the end of some twenty-five mint IS
had reached the height of its strength
/ The sailors, most all OF whom had heavy
bass voices. were chanting almost fur
ously, and the sounds could be heard ar
/ away.
As it ended Father VassIan offered d
prayer. Then the incense was swung By
the priest. Another prayer and 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. Tie latter vas borne by
six stalwart Russian sailors The funeral
procession was then formed The Rus
sian officers, including Captain Behr
Lieuteuants Vaniien, PortelnisOtf. and
Kovank. Chief Engineer Leysof, Assist
ant Engineer RCdnine. and Dr.. Gouck
marched down GiraTd Avenue at the head
Then came the mOurDerS' carriages and
the hearsc. while the rear was brought
I'D by the mounted police The procession
was long and curious TO Philadelphia
eyes
The grave had been dug IN he GENE
. terv. and just as the coffin VS. about II
be lowered Immediately after a last pray
CT by Father Vassian. all took hats Of
and sang the Russian national hymn
Tschnparinoff in whose honor the seTv-
ices were held was q sailor on board the
. Russian cruiser Fariag. now stationed a
this port He was stricken with typhoie
. fever and was admitted TO the German
hospital on January 16- He died six day:
later. He left a widow. who was unable
to attend the funeral Re was twenty
seven years old and was born in Moscow
/ Russia