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- VI. Spring Scenes in Samara
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the Mount and other parts of the New Testament which teach
how a Christian should live.
Then the priest got into a rage, snatched the Testament and
flung it out of doors, exclaiming “Does the Gospel hear such
fruit then?” and flung himself out by the same way.
*
It is “the great Lent," with its multitude of services. Early
and late the Pope, dressed in his “rjassa,” a long gown with
wide arms, a long staff in his hand, and accompanied at a
distance by the “psalm-singer,” walks slowly and majestically
to the church, where the bells are rung in rapid time. Behind the
priest and his pomoststchik come troops of people of all ages
in single file, bowing and crossing themselves as they enter the
church. It is “Blagovestshjenije,” Annunciation Day. An icy
cold wind drives the newly-fallen snow over the plains as I go
with the crowd to church, which is filled to its utmost capacity.
The barbaric Eastern splendour of the interior, the number of
saints in their silver frames, the gaudy decorations, the costly
robes of the priest, and the elaborate ritual contrast painfully
with the malodorous motley crowd of ragged, emaciated, and
dirty men, women, and children. These incessantly bow and
cross themselves, and kneel before the pictures, while the priest
walks round those of the Virgin and the Christ, swinging “the
holy Kadjilnitza” or censer, and the “psalm-singer” sings
the Mass with a strong “gin-bass” (produced through drinking
much gin). Powerful as his voice is, it is drowned by the
coughing and the screams of the babies.
On either side of the “ikonastasis,” a large screen before the
altar, stands a small desk within a rough wooden enclosure,
where a man is busy all the time selling “holy” wax candles.
The poor usually buy the cheapest kind, at about five copecks,
and light them before their favourite saints. A brisk business
is carried on in this kind of merchandise, the value of which is
greatly enhanced by the priest’s “consecration.” The net
proceeds are divided between the clergy and the church.
There is a strong draught through the church, yet the air
is unspeakably foul. The whole service, with its mechanical
ceremonies, its prayers, and chanting in a language unintelligible
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