SOLEMN AND MAGNIficent CEREMONY IN RUSSIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2549, 10 November 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOLEMN AND MAGNlficent CEREMONY IN RUSSIA.

Russia celebrated cm July 27th the 900 th anniversary of her conversion to Christianity, when the splendour of the ritual of the Greek Church was witnessed throughout Russia by the millions of descendants of those ancient Russians who saw their wooden idols hurled into the Dnieper, and were afterwards baptisjd en nmssc in its waters, by order of their first Christian prince. The ceremonies in St.. Petersburg, enhanced by the presence of the Emperor himself have imleeci been grand and striking; but those at KiefF, the " mother of Russian cities." ami the historic nursery of the Russian Church, must have been still more solemn and magnificent. Tlv; day wis proclaimed as a general holiday. The chii;f interest in St. Petersburg centred in the procession of priests from St. Valdiinir's Church across the Neva, and the blessing or the river by the Metropolitan and bishops in the presence of the Czar. Tho decorated streets, and especially the river quays, were filled with enormous crowds and ranks of troops from a very early hour. The Czar, the Czarina, and all the members of the Imperial family came up the river to the Nicholas bridge on the yacht Peterhof, heralded by the distant booming of the great guns at Cronstadt, and announced to those who were too far off to see by the continuous low roar of the shouting multitudes as their Imperial Majesty's drove from the yacht along the quay to the spot opposite the Alexander Garden and the equestrian statue of Peter the Great, where a floating pavilion had been placed on the river. The chief procession of ecclesiastics in gorgeous vestments of gold and silver, carrying innumerable church banners and crosses, and bearing aloft a specially miraculous icon, or image, from the cathedral of St. Valdiinir, wound its way across the bridge from the Kazan and St. Isaac Cathedrals. The troops presented arms and the hands played sacred music. The service in the pavilion was performed by the Metropolitan Isidore, assisted by 12 mitred bishops and strong choirs from the palace, in soarlet, blue, and gold. The pavilion, which was covered with white satin and surmounted by a cross, was erected on a floating pier, covered with red cloth ; and here the glittering group of military ecclesiastical dignitaries, headed by the Czar and Czarina, stood bareheaded, in intermittent showers of rain, until the cross was immersed in tho water of the river and presented to their Imperial Majesties to liiss. At this moment there came a crash of artillery from the fortress, and the clang of church bells began throughout the city. Their Majesties, followed by the retinue then walked through the Alexander Garden to the square in front of the Winter Palace, where a platifcm had been built around the Alexander column with an improvised altar. There the Metropolitan and bishops again performed divine service before the Imperial family and read the Litany. At the conclusion all the troops in serried ranks on two sides of the monument were sprinkled with Holy water, and their Imperial Majesties were then driven away to the Palace amid great cheering. At KiefF there was an enormous concourse which had gathered from all parts ' of the Empire. Among those who took part in the procession were the Metropolitans of KiefF and Servia, the Archbishop of Montenegro, and many other dignitiarie.a, including representatives of the Exarchalo of Georgia and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The great standard of the Metropolitan of "Novgorod was borne by 10 men in the van, and numerous choirs chanted ancient Russian hymns. M. Zankoff, M. Protitch, and other delegates from all the Slav nationalities, wero prominent figures iu tb,q

procession. The gaily decorated streets of the historic city, the ninny hued garments of the enormous crowds of country folk, the gorgeous vestmeuts of the clergy, and the innumerable banners and flags combined to make a picturesque aud memorable scene. At the previous day's sitting of the Bisliops in Kief an address was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The address, which was in English was translated to the assembly by the Chief Procurer of the Holy Synod. There was one sad accident to mar the proceedings, for during the review of the troops, which formed part of the programme, the Governor of the District, General Drentclu, was seized with appoplexy, and fell dead from h ; s horse.