Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/282

228 in all the occidental churches, and which the doctor would doubtless have been well acquainted with, had he not been brought up a Presbyterian or Independent. The Nestorians divide their churches into a hécla (temple) or nave; a khorôs, choir or chancel; and a medhbha (altar) denoting the sanctuary or sacrarium, into which none but the clergy are allowed to enter. And the same remarks apply to the churches of the Chaldeans, Syrians, and other Christians in these districts.

The Nestorian clergy receive little support from their people, and consequently are obliged to work for their living as do the laity. They generally cultivate a small piece of land, and not unfrequently weave and make wooden spoons. It is customary however, for the villagers to help them gather in their harvest, and some give them a tithe of their own produce as they feel disposed. They receive no burial fees, and the trifle paid for baptism goes to the support of the church, and is taken by the Wekeels, or Wardens, who are supposed to apply it to that purpose. Besides this the churches generally possess a few acres of land, which the wardens cultivate on the same account, but not unfrequently apply it to their own use. The value of about one shilling is given to the priest for celebrating marriages, but half of this sum he is expected to return to the bridegroom after the service is concluded. The bishops are not much better off in this respect, the only tithe which they receive being a capitation tax to the amount of five pence yearly, levied upon every male within their respective dioceses who had reached the age of puberty. Offerings in kind are occasionally made to them by their parishioners at harvest-time; but the quantity is determined by the will of the donor. The income of the patriarch will be treated of hereafter.

The Nestorian clergy, however, have great influence over the people, by whom they are highly venerated, and who seek their advice in every affair of importance connected with their political and domestic concerns. On meeting a priest, or in taking leave of him, laymen always kiss his hand, and then lift it to their foreheads, and not unfrequently remove their caps or turbans partly off the head with the left hand whilst they take his in their right to raise it to their lips. In addressing a priest they call him "Râbi" (Rabbi,) or "Râbi Kâsha" (Rabbi Presbyter,)