CHURCH SERVICES. 85 



and on the Xrestchenia (i.e., the sixth day 

 after New Year's Day) ; if they go oftener 

 than that it is only for a funeral or at the 

 peril of being stoned or fined for their indis- 

 cretion. Moreover, no man may go unless he 

 has a good coat on his back ; and as a matter 

 of fact every feast day and every Sunday the 

 priest has the church to himself. Friday, 

 Saturday, and Sunday are kept as holidays, 

 no work being done by any of the community 

 from Thursday at sunset to Monday at sun- 

 rise. 



But the priest is far from having whole 

 control over the church. On the contrary, 

 he can only go thither on certain occasions, 

 and cannot admit any stranger. The key of 

 the church is kept by a body of six selected 

 villagers, and whenever the priest wants to 

 hold a service he has to get one or more of 

 the church-guard to accompany him and let 

 him in. Once in, the key- bearer shuts the 



