CROWNING THE CZAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XLII, Issue 3391, 24 March 1894, Page 14

CROWNING THE CZAR.

The coronation of. a. flzar.is perhaps the i most jgqrgeous ; ceremony known to modern times., call it barbaric and childish, but it certainly, is splendid in the, highest degree. ' '. " * , : V'. ; . i ;. |( ! It always takes place in.Mos; oow—eisewhere ,it would 'not be ; legal—and for days beforehand' the city wears a holiday appearance. An bld'law, still .unrevoked,, reI quires' each house to receive three coats of white paint' in' honour of the occasion, and'itfre inhabitants vie with other in the magnificence'of their decorations, ! The,' graud procession,, with which the ceremonies open, is first "formed at the cavalry barracks, Sixty heralds, mounted upon cream-coloured horses, range : themselves'; twenty abreast; before the' aoor, arid sound their trumpets. The • commandant appears and asksj- as if- surprised, what they will do with him; : to which the master of ceremonies replies;-- ■ V

, " The 1 Czar commands thee to follow me." " ; :

\ The regiment then issues forth; and' marches, preceded by the heralds, 1 to the cathedral,' where they are awaited by the clergy, then to' the law courts, where the judges are ; assembled, and ; next to: the headquarters of the various nobles, governors, .deputations and guilds, all of whom, after, the 1 same formal question and answer, join the, pro!cesf?jon, ;.■, ;,-■. ,*., ..■'.-,■.

Thus, continually., increasing, it passes on. to the : closed gate of .the Kremlin. The trumpets, again sound, and the commander of the garrison;enquires what the .people want.;

: ' : l \TheCzar,'^ theycry; ....... ~.' . ; "What for?" asks the officer,., "Tocrowii hiin most powerful of the powerful!"'. ~-,,=; .V,,., ;; ; Upon which tHe'rgates,iir6 s flung, open, and they all pa?s, in. ■; They next proceed to. the palace, where, in response to their demand, .they are joined by the, Czar in a ' colonel's ■' uniform; accompanied by the OzannT iu'tlie dj-bss of a Russian peasant! Thence they .go, : over :a path ; strewn \vith i bay'; leaves,', to' the cathedral of the; Holy Assumption, !wrftiih' which,, beneath a''.scarlet-' velvet canopy, embroidered with gold, stands the .famous, throne of Vladimir 'Mbnbmaque.| ! Beside it is : a : small throne for the' Czarina, : and before it a table upon which' lie)'a crown, si' sceptre, and [wi ■e'rmineimautle; iK : '.' • ; As soon as the Czar mounts* the throne he is surrounded by his

nobles, who draw their swords and lav them at his feet. The Bishop of Kazan then ; tjaree times a formula |. ;: rehiring |a |yone 0o knowjfa rdaloh wsy ti§Jsorbiiiion , should notstaKe placejto \ |§ « Nojanswjr.Jbeing ?made, thfrCzar is placed 1 upon" h'is "Islioulders by tho as he Joes j'SOrp ' ' }> JJ ~£s i 4fjpver?and| protect |K|j people asffflis/ iopllcoversl and|protects

To which the Czar replies : will, I; willfl will," * thrice" kissing the prelate's hand. : He is then invested with the crown and sceptre, after, which he himself crowns his wife, Holding the crow,n above, her .head, while, both'remain in silent prayer. At 1 last they rise; and all present kneel, shouting:— ~■{ ~,..■,.:■• ..■■■/.•■;. " Long live the Ozar!" The nobles approach toswear allegiance, and receive their swords from his hand, v/He is then

anointed witliin. ithe : inner sanctuary ancl next upon...leaving the cathedral, passes with the great procession through the chief streets of the cityj the ; . Imperial carriage being siirroun'ded by a guard of a hundred young girls of high rank, armed with' huge bouquets.—fhe Amusing jQurnah;V ,' .