The Russian Church in America — Significant religious and political ceremony.
An interesting service took place in New York, on Tuesday, at the Trinity Chapel, with the permission of the Rector of the Parish and the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese. The use of the chapel was offered to Father Agapius, a Greek priest here, for the celebration of the first service held in the United States according the Liturgy of the Russian Church.The day selected for the ceremony — which, in the present state of Yankee diplomatic and national affairs has an important political as well as religious significance — was the anniversary of the coronation of Alexander II, the present Czar of Russia.
The Liturgy.
The chancel of Trinity Chapel was lighted by tapers in the chandelier and in the candelabrum on the altar. Father Agapius, arrayed in a white robe, trimmed with gold, open in the front and displaying a scarlet scarf, which fell over the breast, began the service according to the regular liturgy by pronouncing the benediction:‘ "Blessed be the kingdom of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, now and ever, to ages and ages."
’ To this the choir (of male adults only) responded "Amen."
An Ectene or Litany of twelve petitions was then read, the choir responding to each petition the oft-repeated Hospode pomilui, or "Lord have mercy and hear us." They then sang the Beatitudes in English, and afterwards the Trisagion to the words:
Choir--Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Priest--Wisdom, stand up. Let us hear the holy gospel. Peace to all.
The gospel is then announced and the choir sing Slava tebye Hospode Slava tebye, meaning "Glory be to Thee, O Lord; Glory be to Thee." This is also repeated after the gospel is recited.
The long Ectene or Litany, containing petitions for the Imperial family, is then read, and is immediately followed by the
Eje Cheruveme,
or "the Cherubic Hymn," which is thus translated by Mrs. Bowring:
‘ I.
See the glorious Cherubim
Thronging round th' Eternal throne;
Hark!
thy sing their holy hymn
To th' Unknown Three in One,
All-supporting Deity;
Living Spirit, praise to Thee!
II.
Rest, ye worldly tumults, rest;
Here let all be peace and joy;
Grief no more shall rent our breasts,
Tears no more shall dew our eye.
III.
Heaven-directed spirits rise
To the temple of the skies!
Join the ranks of angels bright
Near the Eternal's dazzling light.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
’
After the previous ectene or litany, and the Cherubic hymn, is said another long ectene, and the Nicene Creed, which was sung in English, omitting the clause "and the Son," or filioque; which, by the way, was interpolated into the creed by Nicholas I, Bishop of Rome, in the ninth century, and has the sanction of no ecumenical council whatever. This point has ever since been the point of difference between the Eastern and Western churches.
Immediately after the creed occur these passages:
Priest--Stand we well; stand we with fear; let us attend to offer the holy Oblation in peace.
Choir--The anointing of peace; the sacrifice of praise.
Priest--The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you all.
Choir--And with thy spirit.
Priest--Let us lift up our hearts.
Choir--We lift them up unto the Lord.
Priest--Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
Choir--It is meet and right to worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, consubstantial and undivided Trinity.
Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord of Sabbath, Heaven and Earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the Highest.--Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Husanna in the Highest.
Priest--(After repeating the words of Institution)--In behalf of all and for all we offer Thee Thine own of Thine own.
Choir--The we hymn, Thee we praise, to Thee we give thanks, Lord, and pray to thee our God.
Then follows a short ectene with a prayer said secretly, at the end of which the priest exclaims aloud:
Priest--And make us worthy O Lord, with boldness and without condemnation to call upon Thee our God and Father, which art in Heaven, and to say:
Choir--Our Father which art, in Heaven, etc. (The Lord's Prayer was here sung in English.)
The consecration is then completed, the priest communes himself, and while partaking, the choir sing again the Cherubic Hymn. Then, after a short ectene, the priest says "Let us go in peace."--A prayer, worded as follows, concludes the liturgy:
‘ "Lord who blessest them that bless Thee, and sanctifies them that put their trust in Thee, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; guard with care the fullness of Thy church, hallow those who love the beauty of Thine house.--Give Thy peace to Thy world, to Thy churches, to our Priests and Kings; to the army and to Thy people; because every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from Thee, the Father of Light. And to Thee we ascribe all glory, worship and honor as is most due Thee, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, now and ever and to ages and ages. Amen."
’ The Liturgy, after a petition for the Imperial family, usually ends with the exclamation, Mnohayah Lyeta,, meaning "many days."
The coronation celebration.
To day, however, this final phrase was omitted, because, this being the anniversary of the coronation of the present Emperor, the appointed Liturgy for the occasion was added.The special service begins with the long litany of fifteen petitions, to which the choir make the usual responses.--The Gospel is then read, which is followed by the litany of nine petitions for the Imperial family. The most solemn prayer for the Imperial family is then said, all kneeling.
This prayer was said outside of the sacrarium or chancel rail, the Bishop, clergy and choir likewise kneeling. At the conclusion of this prayer all rose, and the Gloria in Excelsin was sung in English to the familiar chant in G major, to which it is usually sung in our parish churches. The service concludes with another invocation, and the choir again sing the Mnohayah Lyeta, which is the signal for dismissal.
Trinity Chapel was crowded, and a large number of the clergy; of the Episcopal Church were present. In the chancel were Bishop Southgate, formerly Missionary Bishop Resident at Constantinople; Rev. Dr. Dix, Rector of Trinity Parish? and Rev. Dr. Thrall, a member of the Russo-Greek Committee, appointed in the General Convention of 1862.--Outside the chancel were other clergy of Trinity Parish, and Rev. Dr. McVickar, the oldest Presbyter in the Diocese of New York.
From sixty to seventy members of the orthodox communion (i. e., the Greek Church) occupied seats near the chancel, and followed the service with close attention, making the sign of the cross and inclinations of the head at the proper points.
The choir.
The choir, which sang admirably, was composed of picked singers, who volunteered their services, and were rehearsed under the direction of Rev. Freeman Young, who brought the music from Russia. It was arranged in four parts, and made available by translating the Slavonian words and sounds into English characters. The members of the choir were Messrs. Thatcher, Leggott, Rockwood, Davies, Camp, Aiken and Trost.
