Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/283

Rh and not unfrequently "Kessi," a Coordish word equivalent in meaning to our English "my dear," "my own," which term is also used by all classes in addressing the Patriarch. A Bishop is generally saluted as "Aboona," our father.

As the second volume of this work will be entirely devoted to an inquiry into the doctrines, rites, and ecclesiastical discipline, of the Nestorians, little need be said here on that subject; I shall proceed, however, to give an account of certain practices and superstitions prevalent among them which are more or less connected with their religious prejudices.

Sunday is observed with the greatest strictness by the Nestorians; none will work or travel on that day. It is generally spent by them in attending the services of the Church, in village conferences, and in rural amusements. Friday also, is considered sacred by the mountaineers to a certain extent; some go so far as to abstain from labour, and all deem it unlucky to enter upon any new undertaking on that day. "Sunday," said Mar Shimoon to me, "is a lucky day; but we do not work thereon, because there is a positive command forbidding us, Friday, on the contrary, has no such sanction, yet the fear of failure and disappointment prevents many from beginning any fresh enterprise on that day."

Once a year there is a kind of agape to commemorate the departed in all the mountain villages. This service generally takes place on some Saturday in the month of October, and for days previous such families as intend to contribute to the feast are busily engaged in preparing their offerings. These consist of lambs and bread which are brought into the church yard, and after the people have communicated of the holy Eucharist the priest goes forth, cuts several locks of wool off the fleeces and throws them into a censer. Whilst a deacon swings this to and fro in presence of the assembled guests, the priest recites the following anthem:

Glory be to the, and to the , and to the , ''both now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.''

When ye present oblations, and offer pure sacrifices, and bring