Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-16

are accommodated with seats on the
choir tribune, where their uniforms
and bright gowns are set off by tha
malachte, lapis lazuli and gold bronze
columns of the ikinostasis. On the
pavement below--a much. better place
to see and hear-stand the people who
have secured tickets of admission TO
the reserved space.
The men are in uniforms or evening
dress, the women in light hued even
ing gowns, high at the throats, and
without bonnets. Beyond the tempor-
airy railing and the lofty dais unde.
the great dome, where much of the
service takes place on grand occasions,
stand the masses, crowded to suf.
location. 1t Is said that ST. Isaac's
will hold fifteen thousand people
standing, of course, as usual Whether
any one is ever crushed to death in
these Easter crowds, as rumor alleges
and denies every year, L do not know
1t might easily be true.
Thousands of Tapers
ENely peiSOll III llle vast COnSreEd- :
tion carries a taper, which is lighted
at certain point in the service. The
huge chandeliers, also filled with
tapers, are fired from a long pendent
end of cotton string connecting the
wicks. Far aloft, like a chaplet of
stars around the great dome twinkle
lights on this occasion only. Great
masses of tapers, constantly renewed,
pictures-chiehy. before that of Christ
on this day-aid the shrine lamps, fill
ed with pure olive oil, to illuminate
the gloom. Russian churches are
dark as a rule. The exigencies Of
architecture and the climate which
demand much wall space and forbid
many windows permeable to the cold
render them so by day. Now that
electricity is being introduced they
need be so no longer, except when
the ritual requires it. No animal sub
stance is permitted, but even bees
wax and olive oil make St. Isaac's
vast spaces brilliant on Easter night
and at one or two other great
festivals.
A throng of ecclesiastics, robed in
gold, silver and splendid brocades, are
the most conspicuous figures in the
pageant. The golden mitre of the
bishop, adorned with medallions of
Christ and His mother and John the
Baptist framed in brilliants and stud
ded with jewels. and crosses flash
ing with diamonds catch and reflect
the myriad lights as the priests pass
to and fro between the central dali
and the sanctuary. The choir, in its
robes of deep, velvety blue cloth and
gold, with the wings of the angels
whom they typify on their backs,
transcend their customary magnif
cent singing in the beautiful Easter
hymn. Here the procession in search
of Christ passes entirely round the
by an enormous lantern, chanting as it
makes its way through the throngs
assembled on the sidewalks l re-
member that the big proto- deacon
lost his voice during one of these pro-
cessions, re-entered the cathedral
speechless and was forced to yield his
place of honor to another man. The
service suffered somewhat in con-
sequence. On the preceding Easter ]
stood so close that his vestments
brushed me as 1 passed, and / could
hear his low toned directions to the
priests as he acted as master OF cere-
monies. He was in the habit of crimp-
ing his long, thick but very straight
blond hair for great occasions, and he
usually strained his magnificent and
really remarkable bass voice-re-
even in a land where the
bassos are unexcelled-in his eres-
cendo proclamation of MANY years"
to the emperor and the imperial family,
so this catastrophe was not wholly
surprising.
By this time the granite steps of the
are thronged with people of