. . ■ ■■ . . : . . . 



? e Hi 



Ins Moses 



THERE ARE SAID TO BE MORE GOATS THAN GREEKS IN GREECE 



"Greece is essentially a land of agriculture, preeminently intended to be such ; but, owing 

 to the tremendous drain by emigration from the rural districts, the progress of agriculture 

 has been painfully deficient. In many places the land is tilled only by women and girls" 

 (see text, page 307). 



of black beans, palatable and nutritious, 

 but likely to prove most monotonous after 

 40 days. 



FEAST DAYS AND EASTER 



Feast days are literally celebrated, the 

 crowning festival of the year being, of 

 course, that of the resurrection, following 

 the rigorous abstinence of the 48 days of 

 Lent. Greek orthodoxy then shows its 

 wonderful symbolism at its best. The 

 ceremonies begin in the early morning of 

 Good Friday with a recitation of the so- 

 called "Twelve Gospels," and on this oc- 

 casion the embroidered cloth bearing a 

 representation of our Lord in the tomb 

 is placed upon a bier in the center of the 

 church, where it receives the adoration of 

 the faithful. 



In the evening the burial service takes 

 place, when processions issue from all the 

 churches with torches, military bands 

 playing a funeral march with muffled 

 drums, and following the Epitaphios 

 through the streets. In the line are the 



Metropolitan archbishop, the Holy Synod, 

 and the priests, all in their most gorgeous 

 robes and carrying the sacred emblems. 

 Marching solemnly, are the Ministers of 

 State and great dignitaries of the army 

 and the navy ; all about, the streets are 

 lined with people bearing lighted tapers, 

 and the solemn climax comes when the 

 processions from the various churches file 

 together into the great Square of the 

 Constitution before the palace. 



Shortly before midnight on Easter eve 

 another great ceremony takes place be- 

 fore the cathedral, where, upon a plat- 

 form, assemble the Royal Family, the 

 ministers, and the dignitaries of the 

 realm, each holding a lighted candle. The 

 cathedral bell tolls the solemn hour of 

 midnight ; there is a moment's hush and 

 the Metropolitan cries in deep tones, 

 "Christ is risen." All the people respond, 

 "He is indeed." The bells of the city 

 break forth into pealing, bands of mu- 

 sicians play the national air, a salute of 

 1 01 cannon is fired, and the people hasten 



326 



