concept
Krestny Khod (Procession of the Cross)
procession of the cross
also: крестный ход
The Orthodox Easter-night procession in which clergy and worshippers circle the church carrying icons and the cross before the midnight Paschal service -- the distant lights and bells the exile sees are this procession.
Reading notes
- The Thief §3 Christ is risen
The traditional Orthodox Paschal greeting ("Christ is risen!" / "Truly He is risen!"), exchanged on Easter night and through Bright Week -- Fyodor Stepanych greets the doctor with it as they head toward the midnight service.
- The Thief §9 A procession of the cross
The Easter-night krestny khod: clergy and worshippers circle the church with icons and the cross before the midnight Paschal liturgy begins -- the distant moving lights and bells Fyodor Stepanych watches from afar.