With the Russian Pilgrims to Jerusalem - Brossura

Brossura

ISBN 10: 1151270954 ISBN 13: 9781151270955

Riassunto

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1914. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... V ON THE BANKS OF THE JORDAN The modern Protestant says, "Live well, use your wealth with a sense of responsibility to God, be sober, be just to your neighbour, be temperate in your passions." The Russian says: "All that is minor matter; it is chiefly necessary to die well." Breaking the commandments means for the Protestant breaking with God until repentance; but for the Russian peasant there is no such feeling of breaking with God. The drunkard, the thief, and the murderer are as intimate with God as the just man; and perhaps even more intimate. Life doesn't matter very much; what matters are the everyday ties between man and God, that for which the ikon stands, and the great rites by which man enters into communion with his higher destiny. All the rites of the Russian Church are very solemn, and they are invested with great importance. Certainly the funeral, the laying out of the dead body for its long rest, and the hymns and prayers sung over it are felt to be not only impressive to the living, but good for the one who is dead. It was amazing to me to see the extent to which the pilgrims sought in Jerusalem tokens for the clothing of their dead bodies, and how much their thoughts were centred on death and the final resurrection morning. They sanctified crosses at the grave, little ones to wear round their necks in the tomb, and larger ones to lie on their breasts; they brought their death - shrouds and cross embroidered caps to dip them in Jordan; they took Jerusalem earth to put in their coffins, and even had their arms tattooed with the word Jerusalem, and with pictures of the Virgin; so that they might lie so marked in the grave, and indeed that they might rise again so marked, and show it in heaven. By these things they felt they obtained a sort...

Su questa edizione

• ISBN 10: 1151270954
• ISBN 13: 9781151270955
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile