The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-18
GREAT CHURCH EVENT.
Delegates from the Greek Church Are
Present in Force.

New York, March 1.-THE World says
walton of Archimandrite Raphael to the
bishopric of the Syrian Greek orthodox
church yesterday the church in Pacific
street Brooklyn was crowded by gath
ering of members and curiosity seekers,
and so great was the crush that many
women were taken from the building al
most fainting.
Many high church dignitaries were lit
orally mobbed by the army of the devout
and the curious, and were forced to take
refuge in the sanctuary The Russian
consul general at New York. Count Mich
olas de Lodygensky. and NJ. Babroff. sec
rotary to the Russian embassy. who were
present in full uniform. were roughly
jostled in the melee and were forced to
take refuge in an ante room until the
officers of the church could prevail upon
hundreds of the late corners TO leave the
building
More than two thousand members of the
Greek Orthodox church had made pill
grimages from all parts Of the country
TO be present at this. the most important
church ceremonial ever held by Greek
Catholics in the Tnitei states. Bishop
Tikhon Of North America. and Bishop In
nocent Of Alaska in. vestments that gilt
tered and spanked with sun gold and
silver. conducted the cerembonies Of con-
secration
The first stage of the ceremony was
passed on Saturday night at the Russian
cathedral in East Ninety-seventh street.
when Archimandrite Raphael was nomi-
mated TO the hsho7ric The ceremony Of
/ conservation began at - o'clock a. m, a.
which hour the structure. which contains
no seats. was filed to the doors. Through
this assemblage procession Of priests
and acoiytes literally fought their way to
the doors ami crossed Pacific street with
lighted candles and religious hanersu to
the residence Of The archimandrite. where
they solemnly Informed him that the
bishops and high priests were awaiting
him At the church To elevate him 10 she
bishopric The srchimaudrite. in his
prie=tlv robes. vas Tod across the street
( between two files Of chanting aroiytes
and priests. while every window in the
neighborho0d went up and q mead peered
forth % gaze al thu gorgeous sight
The interior q the church had heen
profuSelv decorated and around the altar
were groured the high diznitsries Of the
church. whose dress made picture most
gorgeous.
The officiating bishops during the first
+ part Of the ceremonies wore ione. Sowing
robes OF scarlet and hoods 81 back. but
these were covered over with the seven
sacred vcstments Jhicklv embroidered
with gold lace A the procession forced
its way toward III altar a choir ~ twenty
male voices sang The two Bishops of
the church took the candidate by thu
hands as II he were 3 little child ard I'D
him three times around The hoy table
chanting a hvma- Then there came a
+ silence and the blshop-elect k1elt At the
table and leaned both hands upon II while
the bishops placed the ornophur;on or pal-
liurra and the ho'y gospel on his head
Then Bishop Tikhoo. III leading bishop.
{ invoked the Haly Spirit 20 eudow him
+ with he grace Of the bishopTic
After this innovation The new bishop
AROSE the priests took from him the
nriAstIv garments and the bishops clothed
hin, with the bishops gorgeous vestneats
one after another. each time uttAr.ng
/ aloud the word .axiOns' or he deseTv-