THE GREEK CLERGY IN RUSSIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 405, 20 September 1856, Page 5

THE GREEK CLERGY IN RUSSIA.

(From, the New Monthly Magazine.) The Russian clergyman is generally plunged in a depth of ignorance, of which we can form no accurate idea. In Protestant or Roman Catholic countries, especially in the former, members of. the church are carefully educated, and because they desire to read the fundamental writings of their creed in the original languages. The holy dialect of Russia is the Sclavonic language, that is, the old Russian as .spoken iii the twelfth century, and which the Muscovites of our time are yet able to understand ; for this reason, men of little learning are required.

The Russian priest preaches but rarely, or rather never. A kind of auricular confession widely different from that used in the Roman Church is the only serious act of worship which recalls certain duties to ther-Limnd of the penitent. The confessor recommends fasting,, the repetition of litanies and ceaseless crossing before innumerable pictures of saints and before every religious building ; this is the whole teaching of the "orthodox church."

The only accomplishments required of a candidate for hoi}' orders are, a faultless bod}% a fine powerful bass voice, a slender figure, a dark beard, and long hair. In 1845, when 20,000 Livonian and Esthonian peasants were converted to orthodoxy by means of an ukase and unexceptionable trickery, new clergymen were wanted with a knowledge of the dialect of the two countries, and nothing el:e was demanded. Amongst the newly created priests were a convicted thief, who was chosen on his way to Siberia; a coachman, with Falstafr proportions; and several serfs, possessingsplendid bass voices. These fellows did not at first even know the rudiments of reading or writing ; nevertheless, after six months' preparation, the} 7 were ordained, and sent to take care of their respective flocks, •■'..■ The principal requirement is a bass voice. Without.it a pope (parish priest Vis not to be conceived, for the capital duty of this sacred office is the cursing of all heretics, on Good Friday, with emphasis enough to make the church windows rattle. The Russians possess generally deep voices, the most powerful of which are usually chosen for the service of the church. The actual deacon of the Imperial Chapel at St. Petersburg was a serf. Travelling one day

in Southern Siberia, in a little charriot containing1 sundry wares, as serfs do with the permission of their lords, lie fell in with a party of Kilgese brigands, who tied his arm's, laid him on the ground, and plundered his van. The poor fellow began in his distress to scream out as loud as he could, and so fearful was the power of his bass voice, that the highwaymen believed him to be the " \ery devil," and took to their heels. When the clergy heard of the wonderful escape n they resolved to use this "diabolical" voice for the honour of God, and claimed the sufferer for the church. A slender figure and dark beard are also indispensable to the pope, in order to give him, combined with a pale face, the appearance of an antique saint. Many produce pale faces by drinking vinegar.

A clergyman can easily transmit his; church and his parish to his son; if his boyard grants it, the bishop will never withhold his approbation. If the son can read a little Sclavonic, say mass, and chant the evening prayer, he is fit for office. Then he frequents the public.house, and drink?, and quarrels with his parishoners, who beat him sometimes, but afterwards kiss his hands, and ask for his benediction. The Greek Church indirectly favours their shameful' ignorance by forbidding the perusal of any book except the breviary, to cultivate any art, or do any work, or to playany musical iustrument,

Percy Bysshe Shelley.—Shelley had a pleasure in making1 paper boats, aud floating them on the water. The ' New Monthly ' has the following curious anecdote on this subject :■ —So long as his paper lasted he remained ri\retted to the spot, fascinated by this peculiar amusement; all waste-paper was rapidly consumed,then the covers of letters, next letters of little value; the most precious contributions of the most esteemed coirespondents, although eyed wistfully many times, and often returned to the pocket, were sure to be sent at last in pursuit of the former squadrons. Of the portable volumes which were the companions oPhis rambles, and he seldom went out without a book, the fly leaves wjere commonly wanting—he had applied them as our ancestor Noah applied gopher wood; but learning was; so sacred in .his eyes, that he never trespassed-further upon the integrity of the copy ; the work itself was always respected. It has been said that he once found himself on the nor'.h bank of the Serpentine river without the materials for indulging those inclinations which the sight of water invariably inspired, for he had exhausted his supplies on the round pond in Kensington Gardens. Not a single scrap of paper could be found, save only a bank post bill for fifty pounds; he hesitated long, but yielded at last; he twisted it into a boat with the extreme refinement of liis skill, and committed it with the utmost dexterity to fortune —watching its progress, if possible, with a still more intense anxiety than usual. Fortune often favours those who frankly and fully trust her; the north-east "wind gently wafted the costly skifi* to the south bank, where during the latter part of the. voyage the venturous owner had waited it* arrival with patient solicitude.