No. 292.
Mr. Bead
to Mr. Fish.
Athens, April 25th, 1875. (Received May 27.)
Sir: The King and the Queen attended the imposing ceremonies at the cathedral last evening, the Greek Easter eve. They arrived in a state carriage, preceded by outriders, and followed by a strong escort of cavalry.
The scene was a most impressive one, as they ascended the steps of the broad platform before the cathedral, accompanied by the various members of their court in brilliant dress, and were received with appropriate solemnities by the Metropolitan and his clergy. The King was in the uniform of a general officer, with the ribbon of his royal order on his breast. The white satin robes of the Queen seemed to steal the color from her cheek. The dignitaries of the church were clad in magnificent embroidered garments. The Archbishop wore, moreover, his mitre, and carried the staff of office in his hand. Golden banners and richly decorated religious emblems glistened on all sides, reflecting countless torches in the hands of the assembled multitude. From the latticed balconies of an ancient Venetian building, on the opposite side of the square, streamed fitfully the many-hued glare of chemical fires. But far above the splendors of the present shone the majestic outlines of the Acropolis and its immortal ruins, illumined by the calm, silvery rays of the same fair moon which looked down upon the labors, ceremonies, [Page 663] and sacrifices of Phidias and Pericles two thousand years ago. In the vicinity of the cathedral, from an early hour, every available space was packed with a living mass. Yet not a murmur arose from the vast crowd, and no disturbance, not even the most trivial, took place.
At the close of the rites their majesties returned to the palace, while their subjects retired to their homes to celebrate with feasting and joyous songs the arrival of Easter, after many weeks of rigid fasting.
I have &c.,