The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12

the allotted times in fasting and prayer,
departs to some other place, where he per-
forms similar labors.
FASTING AND PENANCE.
From the conclusion of his visit until
Easter day the time is passed in rigorous
fasting, in which no distinction is made for
age or conditional period of self-sacrifice
which necessitates the greatest fortitude
and whole-souled zeal. The body is clothed
in the coarsest and most tormenting OF
garments and in other ways scourged. 1t
is not uncommon. especially during more
than ordinarily trying season, for many
deaths to ensue from the tremendous hard
ships undergone. AS death, while engaged
In such meritorious cause, Is looked upon
as the highest exaltation to which world
ly flesh can aspire, the end Is not awaited
fearfully and tremblingly. but welcomed
ferventls- and with undimmed ardor. Dur
ing these long days Of penance the whole
country shelters groups of sad-faced. bag
gard and emanciated men and women,
with children that blindly follow their
parents, weakened through prfvation, their
weary faces smeared with tears and lines
denoting deep suffering, but rejecting the
burning spirit and the uDquenchable fires
of religious zeal.
But at last comes the glorious ending,
the joyous Easter morn. when the season
of hardship and penance is ended, and all
enter into the happiness Of the knowledge
of the Christ risen. The sober garments
of sacrifice are cast aside, and decked out
in the finest raiment they can procure
the erstwhile sober and stern-faced shep-
herds gather together in their camps and
villages. bringing offerings Of the best OF
their stores-fruits and the flesh of kids
and goats, milk and honey, the sweet
smelling cedar and the puckery red wine
Of the hills. Down the sun-kissed slopes
they scramble, bearing before them the
curiously modelled images Of the Savior,
which they hold aloft, while hill and plain
reverberate and echo and re-echo with
their hosannas Into the villages they
crowd, where immense feasts have been
prepared. and where there is giving and
receiving of presents to the sound of weird
shepherd pipes and cymbals.
On the day following the kurnias, or
choral singers of the shepherds. form them
selves into small bands and wander
through the country. chanting as they 60.
and distributing food and wine among the
way. The kurnias are jolly band of men
and boys, who go about to proclaim the
end of the long and wearisome season OF
fasting and prayer. They are chosen from
the shepherds for their fine voices. and. fol-
lowed by the patriarchs. they wander from
village to village, and encampment to en-
campment, while the poor and unfortunate
crowd the route of their passage to share
in the bounty Of the season Of plenty.
Meanwhile those who have not had the
good fortune to form one Of the bands Of
kurnias have not been idle, but at some
of the larger villages and encampments
have been preparing for the last and most
solemn rites of all-the festival of the
alteration of Christ. For days the singers
wander through the country until all have
shared in the bounty and good cheer Of the
season. when gradually they return and
gather for the great ceremony that Is to
follow.
A STRIKING SCENE.
At some spot on the hillside, hallowed by
centuries of similar association, the holy
men and patriarchs have ere this assem-
bled, and, arrayed in garments Of biblical
character, produce in pantomime the spec
tacle Of the crucifixion, while the awe
stricken throngs gather in silence at a dis
tance, reverentially bowling their heads and
praying for blessings in the year yet to
come. None but the oldest men, and those
whose character is spotless, are allowed to
take part in this solemn function. Here, in
these mountain wilds, these quaint and un-
cultured people, with hearts on fire with re-
ligious zeal, paint against the green hillside
in living moving colors the picture Of that
most wonderful of all stories, the Christ
risen, with a realism that is painfully
startling.
Once more the hushed throngs flock back
to the villages. where. assembling in the
dwellings of the patriarchs, the great sea-
son is brought to close. While the kurni-
as chant the stirring epics that have been
handed down to them from their forefa-
theirs. the holy men. still attired in their
biblical costumes, dispense gifts to those
assembled: loaves of bread Of a kind Pc
culiar to the occasion. and to the poor small
purses of money in addition. The young
people likewise take advantage of the oc-
casion to indulge in the practice of a peer
into the future. The girls take their finger
rings, or some trinket, and place 1t in a
large basket, when the bashful SWANS are
invited to step forward and each select the
woman of his choice. Each in turn plunges
his hand into the basket, and, so the oracle
saith, whatever maids present he draws
forth to that person he will be married be-
| fore another Eastertide. This practice en-.
| tered into in jest, is looked upon as more
| or less binding on the two persons, and In
many cases is really observed within the
| time specified.
| For one day longer the scene Of merri
| ment continues. Night for the time being
need of slumber. While the kurnias gath
| cred together after their arduous wander.
| ings, sing the FOLKLORE ballads dear tc
| the heart of every native, huge bonfres are
| built. and around these all gather to feast
and dance the time away, until the frs
| faint simmer Of sunlight gives warning Of
the break of another day. Then the holy
| men and patriarchs once more retire Il
| the hills and forests with the offerings OF
| the people, which are laid upon the sancti
| fed affairs as willing tributes to theil
| Creator of the fruits and fairness of the
EARTH" while the hardy shepherds. with
their wives and children, toll over the un
| even country to their far-off abodes, there
| to take up the course of their simple, un
eventful existence until another year ha.
rolled by. w. C. JAMESON REID.
| (Author of "Unexplored ASIA" "Amonf
the Farthest People" etc.)
|
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