C H A P . VIII.
Divine fervice in the Sclavonian and Greek tongue performed
by the arcbbifhop o f Mofcow.— Bleffing o f the maters.—
Publick feaft given to the populace.— Its melancholy conclu-
fion.— Defcription o f the vapour-baths.— Departure from
Peteriburgh.— Journey through Ruffian Finland.— Sledges.
— Mode o f travelling.—^Wiburgh.— Fredericklham.
b o o k r - p H £ reader, in the firft part o f the prefent chapter, will
. meet with accounts o f various ceremonies and national
cuftoms, which will follow each other in an unconnected
detail, but which were too curious to be omitted.
During our ftay at Peteriburgh, one Sunday morning,
about nine o’clock, we, in company with Sir James Harris,
had the honour o f attending prince Potemkin to the arch-
biffiop o f Mofcow, in order to be prefent at a Sclavonian and
Greek fervice. This learned prelate, whofe name is Plato,
received us with great politenefs; and, at the clofe o f a ihort
converfation, conducted us into the church. Upon his entrance
the chorifters began a ihort hymn *, which they fi-
niihed as he approached the fhrine : having then faid a ihort
prayer, he placed himfelf upon a raifed feat in the middle of
the church t ; and taking o if his mandyas, or common
garment, the attendant priefts kifled his hand while they delivered
to him the different parts o f the coftly pontifical veil-
* “ T h e L o rd ’s name is prai/od from th e ro b in g Jh emfelv es in th e middle o f the
u r if in g u p o f th e fu n , to th e g o in g down ch u rch : th e common prieits p u t on their
f i o f th e fam e .” P fa lm c x iii . v . 3. ec clefiaftical veftmenta in th e fhrine.
T h e b iiliops alone ha ve th e p r iv ileg e o f
\ ments,
ments, which, in receiving, he raifed to his lips before he CHAP-
inverted himfelf with them ; he alfo placed on his head a w L
crown richly ornamented with pearls and precious ftones.
We were informed that this drefs is iimilar to the imperial
robe that was formerly worn by the Greek emperors o f Con-
ftantinople, and which they permitted the fupreme dignitaries
of the church to put on at the time o f divine fervice ; and the
fame attire ftill continues to diftinguifh the hierarchy o f the
Greek church eftabliffied in Ruffia from the lower orders.
The archbiihop, being robed, repaired to the fhrine within
the great folding-doors, and foon afterwards began the celebration
o f divine worihip. Part o f the fervice was performed
in the Sclavonian tongue by the different prierts, and part by
the archbiihop in the Greek language, which he pronounced
according to the accent o f the modern Greeks. In conformity
to the rules o f the church, no organ, or any other mufical in*
ftrument, was introduced; but the vocal harmony, which
coniifted in hymns, was exceedingly pleafing. Lighted tapers
and incenfe feemed no lefs effential parts o f their worihip
than among the Roman catholicks. Towards the conclufion
of the prayers the archbiihop and clergy retired into the
fhrine, to receive the communion. The folding-doors were
immediately ihut, and none o f the laity f at that time partook
of this rite, but we as ftrangers were allowed to view what
paired through a fide-door that had been left open for that
purpofe. The communicants flood during the ceremony;
and the wine was, according to ufual cuftom, mixed with
Warm water ; the bread, which was cut into final! pieces, was
put into the wine, and the elements o f both kinds were given
at the fame time in a fpoon.
. * In ort,er t0 ' tifs the crofs, which is em- + T h e la ity g en e ra lly receive th e faera -
oroidereci u pon ea ch p a rt o f the drefs. men t once o r twice in the y e a r .
Vol. II. q q The