BAPTISM IN COLD COUNTRIES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3169, 16 April 1879, Page 3

BAPTISM IN COLD COUNTRIES.

Tte St. Petersburg correspondent of the Boston Advertiser gives the following description of the third son of the Czarovitch : When the chapel was filled the service began. After much chanting and reading the water is blessed, the child taken out of all hi 9 clothes and plunged into the font, head first, three times. The priest closed his eyes and nose with his fingers, but the "augustnew-born," as he is styled in large capitals in the programme for the day, screamed like any ordinary baby, and evidently did not like it. He was then given to the godmother, wrapped in blankets and dozed quietly while another prayer was said, j He was only left in peace fora few mo- i mentg. The priest anointed bis ears, eyes, mouth, hands and.feet with holy oil, that none of these members should do any harm in life. When the little fellow had recovered from this interruption and just began to quiet down he was again disturbed and all his hair * cut off, thrown into the font, where it was supposed to be spit u^jp^but I think the Emperor omitted ttift part of the ceremony. This is a remnant of the old Jewish ritual from which that of the Greek Church is entirely taken. Then the Emperor, holding a lighted candle and carrying the baby, walked three times around the font accompanied by the metropolitan and the godmother, also with candles. The Emperor invested the child with the order of St. Andrew, and then he was taken behind a screen and given to the nurse, where he remained until the services were-over. The Czarovich appeared at this moment to receive the congratulations of his family. He kissed them all on the cheek. The mass was then said, and the whole service, which had commenced at half-past 10, was not over., until 1. During this time every one had to remain standing. ,