MOSCOW. 
75 
The most remarkable part of the solemnity CI ™ P ' 
now followed. The archbishop, descending into ^ . — ' 
the body of the church, concluded the whole 
ceremony by crawling round the pavement on 
his hands and knees, kissing the consecrated 
pictures, whether on the pillars, the walls, the 
altars, or the tombs; the priests and all the 
people imitating his example. Sepulchres were 
opened, and the mummied bodies of incorrup- 
tible saints exhibited : all of these underwent 
the same general kissing. 
Thus was Easter proclaimed: and riot and Excesses of 
1 . the Popu- 
debauchery instantly broke loose. The inn lace, 
where we lodged became a P andremonium. 
Drinking, dancing, and singing, continued 
through the night and day. But, in the midst 
of all these excesses, quarrels hardly ever took 
place. The wild, rude riot of a Russian popu- 
lace is full of humanity. Few disputes are 
heard ; no blows are given ; no lives endan- 
gered, but by drinking. No meetings take 
place, of any kind, without repeating the ex- 
pressions of peace and joy, Christos voscress ! 
Heathen ceremony respecting the Finding of Osiris. Plutarch de- 
scribes the same sort of procession and ceremony ; adding, “Then all 
that are present cry out with a loud voice, Osiris is foun'd!” Kol 1 ylnveu 
x^a.vy)\ rcov Trot/jovruv, vs iv^vifiivou rov ’O tr'ioibos. Plut . de Isid . et Osir, 
c. 39. 
