Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XI. In the City of Saratov
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with these placards in any way would bring on the offender the
direst penalties.
Long before noon the streets through which the procession
was to pass were closed to the public by gendarmes. With
my Kodak under my cloak I managed to elbow my way down
to the magnificent river, whose waters, discoloured and swollen
by the melting of the winter snows, were to be consecrated,
and secured a place on a large steamer, from which I had a
good view of the “holy” pavilion, where the ceremony was to
be enacted. In the middle of the pavilion floor was an opening
to the water, draped round with a white cloth, on which “holy”
vessels were placed. The bridges, the steamers, the banks of
the stream, and the roofs of the houses were all covered with
onlookers.
Nearly an hour passed before the procession appeared, but
as harbinger there came to the pavilion an important
personage in the shape of an “Orthodox missionary.” This
is a new order of the Church, created to help the police
exterminate the sectarians under pretence of “converting”
them. There was a sanctimonious effulgence about his face
that accorded well with his sleek appearance. I had seen this
holy man before, and knew that he was a shining light within
the fold of the Orthodox Church; I knew with what unctuous
eloquence he could address the orthodox masses, and kindle
their orthodox passions to such a degree that they would
assault and rob the heretics, both in the streets and in their
own homes. I knew how, through his holy zeal, many a
sectarian had been thrown into prison, or exiled to Siberia
or Trans-Caucasia, leaving their destitute families in misery
and despair. I knew, too, how that holy man would be
humility itself, could even go so far in his condescension as to
hold intimate intercourse with the lowliest—of the fairer sex.
I therefore watched him with the greater interest and
attention.
With grave and solemn step he passed to the bridge leading
to the holy pavilion, which none of the common or vulgar
dared to tread. Here he stopped, and gazed on the masses
with superior mien. He passed in review the quays and the
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