The Washington times., 1906-06-25
GREEK WEDDING
ON DRESS PARADE
Party in Quantity Decorated
Carriages Traverse Down
town Section of City.
RICE AND OLD SHOES GALORE
Groom Greek, His Bride an American.
Double Marriage Ceremony Per-
formed by Lutheran and Greek.

For two hours yesterday a strange
procession traversed the principal down
town section of the city. Its passing
attracted instant attention. fixed inter
est, and no little wonderment. II was
quaint and not commonplace. Such pro-
cessions are few and far between II
was a Greek wedding The caravan
was followed by n cosmopolitan horde
of street urchins, in which the sene-
gamhian predominated.
Heading the curious procession there
was an open barouche. This was cur
iously decorated with white Bride roses.
old tin cans. yards Of white ribbon. old
shoes. two large signs reading re-
spectively. we are just married" and
Me and her" Seated in the barouche
was blushing young bride with a huge
bridal bouquet In her hand. a bridal
Neil on her head. Beside the bride the
beaming but embarrassed bridegroom
sat The escort of eight carriages fol-
lowed fiinginE showers or rice and shoes
after the carriage of honor. The Greek
bridegroom was Nicholas Pappesjohn
and his American bride was Miss Helen
Mohr. They were making the custom
ary trip about the city demanded by
centuries of Greek usage. But the real
significance Of the thing was that It
connected modern Washington IN this
picturesque manner with ancient Greece.
pagan Greece before her decadence be-
gan.
Gala Day in Greek Colony.
The marriage day of Nicholas Pappes-
John was a gala day with the Greek
colony The hail at 1914 f street north
west had been prettily decorated for the
occasion. Facing the east. an improv-
sod oTH
simple but handsome array of palms
and other foliage plants. a goodly num-
Der of Americans were present The
Re~. Herman Menzel. pastor Of Con-
cordia German Lutheran Church. was
present- At 3:3O the wedding process
sion left the home of the happy pair on
New York avenue.
Double Marriage Ceremony.
The bride entered the hall on the arm
Of the groom. followed by the best man
and her mother. The couple passed up
the aisle 10 the altar where the Luth-
eran minister awaited their arrival a
short pause ensued while waiting for
Father Joachim Alexopulos. the local
Greek priest. He came escorted by his
cantors- On the arrival Of the priest. the
Kew. Mr. Menzel began the marriage
ceremony, and according TO the usage Of
his church he declared them man and
VIE The nrSt ceremony over they went
through the unique rites Of the Greek
church.
Dramatic Scene in Church.
The dramatic moment was the next
action. Suddenly the bride. groom.
priest. best man and ushers caught hold
of hands and began going round aHa
round while the men with the candle
followed them. It really resembled \
merry-So-round. but from the audience
came shower Of rice and the groor,
took on his wreath and kissed his bride
They were married. after two hours GER
emony, dOubly married, Greek and Amer
lean.
The Greeks as they passed the sacred
table knelt and made the sign OF the
cross. kissing the ikOn on the rock They
deposited a voluntary sum Of money.
whether for the priest or TO assist in
setting up housekeeping, the outsider
could not ascertain. An informal recep-
ton was held for about thirty minutes
after which the procession started end
ing at the railway station. where the
much-married couple left for a ten-days'
trip in Atlantic City