book T h e whole fervice lafted about an h o u r : the archbifhop,.
■ VL , having pronounced the final benediction, again -feated himfe
lf in the middle o f the church, divefted himfelf of his
pontifical garments, and clothed himfelf in his common
robe. We then followed him to his honfe, where we found
a breakfaft, confiding of an eel-pye, afterlet, red and pickled
herrings, :and various forts of liqueurs and wines. After enjoying
for fome time the intelligent and entertaining con-
verfation o f the archbifhop, who fpoke fluently the French
tongue, we made onr acknowledgements and retired.
Before our departure from the metropolis, we had an opportunity
o f being prefent at another religious rite of a
mare publick nature, the Bleffing o f the Waters; which was
>n. 17 , performed on the 6th o f January, O. S. though not with its
1 ‘ s' antient pomp andmagnificence. This ceremony ufed to be
held upon the Neva, upon which occaiion the foyereign attended
in perfon upon the ice, and all the regiments o f guards
were drawn out in great folemnity. Its pomp, though ftill
fplendid, is now much diminifhed. 1 fhall here deferibe the
principal circumftances which fell under my obfervation.
Upon the frozen furface o f a fmall canal between the admiralty
and the palace was ere ¿led an odtagon pavilion of
wood, painted green, and ornamented with boughs of fir t
it was open at the fides, and crowned by a dome, fup-
ported by eight pillars. On the top was the figure of St. John
with the crofs, and four paintings reprefenting fome of the
miracles o f our Saviour: in the infide a carved image o f the
Holy Spirit under the emblem o f a dove was fufpended,
as is ufual in the fandtuaries of the Greek churches. The
floor o f this edifice was carpetted, excepting a fquare
vacancy in the middle, in which an opening was cut in the
ice, and a ladder let down into the water. The pavilion was
3 ' • ehciofed
e n c lo fe d b y p a l i fa d o e s a d o r n e d w i t h b o u g h s o f f i r , a n d t h e c h a p .
■í* V I I I intermediate fpace alfo covered with carpets. From one r.f, T
the windows o f the palace a fqafFolding was erected, ornamented
with red cloth, which reached to the extremity o f
the canal. At the time appointed the emprels appeared at
the window of the palace ; and the archbifhop, who was to
perform the benediction, paffed at the head o f a numerous
proceilion along the fcaffolding into the oCtagon, round which
were drawn up a few foldiers o f each regiment quartered at
Peterfburgh : after having pronounced a few prayers % he
defcended the ladder, plunged a crofs into the water, and then
fprinkled the colours o f each regiment. At the conclufion
of this ceremony, the archbifhop retired, and the people
rulhed in crouds into the oCtagon f, drank with eagernefs the
water, fprinkled it upon their clothes, and carried fome o f it
away for the purpofe o f purifying their houfes.
On the 6th o f December we were witnefs to a very lingular
entertainment given to the publick by a Ruffian,
who had acquired a large fortune by farming, during four
years only, the right o f vending fpirituous liquors. ' Upon
furrendering his contradi, he gave, as a proof o f his gratitude
to the lower clafs o f people, by whom he had enriched
himfelf, a feaft in the garden o f the fummer-palace, which
Was announced by hand-bills diftributed throughout the
city. As ftrangers, defirous o f obferving the national
manners, we did not fail to be prefent at this caroufal, which
commenced at two o’clock in the afternoon. Upon our firft
arrival, we walked round the gardens and examined the pre-
T h é reader w ill find th e ceremonies lace plunged into the w r it e r ; and that.othe rs
an.d prayers u fed on this occaiion in D r . dipped th e ir ch ildren into it j bu t as I was
!ng s R ites o f the G re e k C h u r ch , p . 386. not m y fe lf witnefs to th efe circumftances, I
T I was informed th at fome o f the popu- . cannot vouch for th e ir t ru th .
Q q 2 parations.