request. The exchange of eggs, accompanied with
kissing on the lips and cheeks in the form of the cross, accompanies
all gifts or exchange. The _koolitch_ and _paska_ have also to be
bought. The _koolitch_ is a sweet kind of wheaten bread, circular
in form, in which there are raisins. It is ornamented with candied
sugar and usually has the Easter salutation on it: "_Christos
vozkress_"--"Christ is risen"--the whole surmounted with a large
gaudy red-paper rose. The _paska_ is made of cords, pyramidal in
shape, and contains a few raisins, and, like the former, has also
a paper rose inserted on the top. These are the _sine qua non_ for
the due observance of Easter, but what relation they may have, if
any, to the Jewish Feast of the Passover, it is difficult to see,
although in many other respects there is a striking resemblance
to the service of the Temple in Jerusalem in the ritual of the
Russo-Greek Church. The _koolitch_ and _paska_ and dyed eggs are
brought to, but not into, the church on the Saturday evening. Some
have burning tapers inserted into them, while a pure white table
napkin is spread on the ground, or on benches specially provided
for the purpose, awaiting the priests' blessing. The hours for
this purpose are six, eight, and ten o'clock. The priests sprinkle
the _koolitch, paska_, and dyed eggs at these hours, those to whom
they belong slipping a silver or copper coin into his hand as a
reward for his services. These articles are then carried home,
and along with the other necessities for the feast are laid out
on a table, there to lie untouched till the resurrection of the
"Saviour" is an accomplished fact. Meanwhile the lessons are being
read over the tomb of "Christ," and the devotees, still in large
numbers, kiss His face and feet. About 11 P. M. the sarcophagus is
wheeled to its usual place in the church, where it remains until
the following Easter.

All the churches by this time are densely packed with worshippers,
silently waiting with eager expectancy the time when their "Saviour"
will break the bonds of death and rise from the tomb in which he
has now lain for three days.

As if by magic, everyone has lighted his or her taper, and looks
anxiously towards the altar-screen, where preparations are being
made by the priests to go to Joseph of Arimathea's garden, as the
disciples and women did of old to visit the tomb where Christ was
buried. This they do by forming a procession with the crucifix,