Very grand, and very festive

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We recently found this interesting description of how Moscow celebrated Epiphany during Tsarist times on a Russian Telegram channel, and made a rough translation. It sounds like quite the party:

"'In Christ ye are baptized, in Christ ye are clothed,' they sing. It means that we bear the face of the Lord... And now Epiphany, from the Kremlin there will be a procession to the river. The life-giving Cross will be dipped into the 'Jordan' (Moscow river) and the cannons will be fired. And some will dive, under the ice. And I will, every year I dip in the 'Jordan'. It's not so much the frost as the joy of the soul..." - said the hero of a touching novel "The Summer of the Lord", in which the great Russian writer Ivan Shmelev recalled the past of pre-revolutionary Moscow ...

In those days our expanses were quieted on Epiphany Eve, after the boisterous celebrations of the 12 days of Christmas after Christmas day. On this day Russia humbled itself and Orthodox people ate nothing before the evening service, devoutly awaiting the solemn rite of blessing of the Epiphany water.

Medieval Moscow was preparing for the festive procession of the Tsar. For the Epiphany celebrations many boyars and other important officials came to Moscow from all parts of the Russian kingdom. By the "Jordan" on the Moskva River gathered up to 400,000 people. 

The Tsar in a special royal attire first went to the holy places in the Assumption Cathedral, and then, to the overall jubilation of the people, marched with the patriarch in procession on the ice to the 'Jordan'. They were accompanied by dense rows of burly palace guards, who were guided by the formation of commanders from the Tsar's inner circle. All military men were dressed in bright festive clothes. 

Under the walls of the white stone Kremlin, on the snow-white cover of the Moskva River a solemn and spiritual scene in accordance with the meaning of the Epiphany holiday took place. The endless motley crowd of loyal people of all classes united with the king and the patriarch in the joint prayer for Christ. And the world stood still for the entire duration of the solemn Divine Liturgy. 

Then the pilgrimage was not over: the Tsar went back to the Assumption Cathedral for the vacation prayer, and then worshiped in the royal chambers. 

Meanwhile in Moscow, "in the streets, alleys and courtyards" the Orthodox people again returned to the celebration of the last episode of the Christmas holidays. And again there were noisy talks, songs, games, and dances in accordance with the ancient Russian proverb "Drink from the chalice - be healthy! 

An old chant resounded across our expanse: "The Spirit from on high, like a bird flying down a dove, is equal to the Son and glorious to the Father. Poor creature, rejoice, for the Savior has appeared to you.

The ancestors did not forget to share their joy and alms with the poor brethren on this holy feast, according to Christ's covenant. On the feast of the Epiphany the Tsar-Batushka himself gave alms to the poor and needy in hospitals, almshouses, and prisons. On such a day the Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (the 2nd Romanov Tsar, +1676) would set out in person to visit the orphans, widows, the weak and the wretched in order to give them alms. And on his way he gave money and presents to all the beggars he met. 

This custom of performing special works of mercy on the 12 holy days of Christmas was kept by all the royal descendants of Alexey Mikhailovich until the Emperor Nicholas II, the last tsar (+1918) .

The last Russian emperor spent enormous sums on charity, and on feast days he and his entire family participated in charity evenings and attended celebrations at hospitals, orphanages, and almshouses. Not a single holiday for Nicholas II and his household was without a visit to the needy. 

Not lagging behind the tsars in good deeds were the ordinary Russian people. On Christmas Day the townspeople and the peasants at the cottage honored to feed the wayfarers, to take refuge in their weak strangers and serve the poor in the porch. Noblemen and merchants gave free meals to the poor, and donated to schools, hospitals, orphanages and widows' homes. 

Thus the Feast of the Epiphany closed the merry Christmas holidays, and then in the Central Russian expanse began everyday work until the raucous Maslenitsa (a Russian equivalent to Karneval preceding the Lenten fast).

End of translation.

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