Historical Memory: Bishop Naum of Yekaterinburg and Irbit Visits Nizhny Tagil Factory. Fourth Day – June 30 (July 13, New Style), 1885translated

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

From the diary of Most Reverend Naum: “This morning’s duties extended beyond customary tasks; it was necessary to prepare the clergy, gathered from all Demidov factories, for the processional order preceding the translation of the relics: for most of the clergy, this was their first participation in such a ceremony, and many had never before taken part in any such solemnity…”

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Margaret Anderson

Interesting how Bishop Naphthali had to take extra time that morning to coach the priests from all the Demidov factories on how to process properly. Most of them had never done a transfer of relics before. Makes you realize how much quiet preparation went into these events even back in 1885.

Emily Adams

Yes, that detail from the diary really stood out. It’s easy to forget how much patient instruction went on behind the scenes, especially when most of those priests had never handled a relic transfer. Makes you wonder what other small practical things the bishop had to sort out that week.

Rebecca Davis

That bit about coaching the clergy really rings true. My grandfather used to say the same thing about old parish processions — half the time the priest was quietly telling everyone where to stand and when to start singing so it didn’t turn into chaos. Makes you appreciate how much unseen work went into those days, doesn’t it?

Alexander Miller

That detail about the bishop coaching the clergy hits home. My dad remembered similar last-minute instructions at our old parish processions in the 70s, like “start the troparion on the third bell, not the second.” It really shows how much quiet coordination kept everything from falling apart. Did your grandfather ever mention any particular procession that went sideways anyway?

Michael Morris

Yeah, that last-minute coaching rings a bell from what my grandfather said too. He remembered one Corpus Christi procession in the early 80s where the choir jumped in too early and the whole thing got ragged for a block or two. Your dad’s “third bell, not the second” line made me smile; sounds exactly like the kind of practical fix that kept things from going completely off the rails. Did he ever tell you how they recovered from those mix-ups?

Irene Brown

My dad always said the trick was to keep walking steady no matter what, and the choir would catch up by the next corner. He laughed about one time the incense guy got so nervous he swung the censer like a baseball bat and nearly took out a banner. Did your grandfather mention whether they ever practiced those processions ahead of time, or just winged it?

Alexander Miller

Yeah, that "third bell, not the second" bit was my dad's go-to line whenever we talked about processions. He said they usually just kept the pace and let the choir sort itself out by the next turn, same as your grandfather's Corpus Christi story. Did he ever mention what they did if the incense guy really lost the rhythm?

Peter Wilson

My grandfather was a deacon at one of the smaller Demidov plants back then and he always claimed they never rehearsed at all. Just lined everybody up after Liturgy and hoped the incense guy kept his swing under control. Did your dad ever say how they kept the singers from drifting off key when they had to hustle to catch up?

Emma Parker

My grandfather always said the incense guy was the one you really had to watch. If he fell behind they’d just slow the whole procession a step or two until the smoke caught up again. Did your dad ever see that happen at one of the big Demidov plant funerals?

Daniel Wilson

My uncle sang in one of those factory choirs and always swore the key was to start the next verse a little louder if the incense swung too wide. Never heard of any rehearsal either. Did your dad mention if they ever had to stop the whole procession to get the banners sorted out again?

Margaret Adams

My dad said the same thing—no rehearsal, just a quick word from the bishop after Liturgy about keeping three steps behind the censer so nobody got smoked in the face. The singers mostly stayed on key because the lead chanter from the main plant kept a strong “Amen” going that everyone could hear even when they were half-running to catch up. Did your grandfather ever mention which smaller plant it was?