Introduction
Felicia Skene, remembered today chiefly for her work in prison reform, lived for a time in Greece. Seven years into her residence there, she published a record of her impressions of Greece and Turkey (from which Greece had recently won independence), which included a justly celebrated description of the Easter night celebrations in Athens.
AS midnight approached, the Archbishop, with his priests, accompanied by the King and Queen, left the Church, and stationed themselves on the platform, which was raised considerably from the ground, so that they were distinctly seen by the people. Everyone now remained in breathless expectation, holding their unlighted tapers in readiness when the glad moment should arrive, while the priests still continued murmuring their melancholy chant in a low half-whisper.
Suddenly a single report of a cannon announced that twelve o’clock had struck, and that Easter day had begun; then the old Archbishop, elevating the cross, exclaimed in a loud exulting tone, ‘Christ is risen!’ ‘Christos anesti,’ and instantly every single individual of all that host took up the cry, and the vast multitude broke through and dispelled for ever the intense and mournful silence which they had maintained so long, with one spontaneous shout of indescribable joy and triumph, ‘Christ is risen!’ ‘Christ is risen!’
At the same moment, the oppressive darkness was succeeded by a blaze of light from thousands of tapers, which communicating one from another, seemed to send streams of fire in all directions, rendering the minutest objects distinctly visible, and casting the most vivid glow on the expressive faces, full of exultation, of the rejoicing crowd.
Précis
During her seven years in Greece, Scottish writer Felicia Skene was privileged to witness the atmospheric night-time Easter Vigil, attended by the King himself. As midnight struck, the Archbishop raised the cry of ‘Christ is risen!’, which was taken up by the whole congregation. Tapers were lit, and blazing fire ran from hand to hand in the darkness. (58 / 60 words)
During her seven years in Greece, Scottish writer Felicia Skene was privileged to witness the atmospheric night-time Easter Vigil, attended by the King himself. As midnight struck, the Archbishop raised the cry of ‘Christ is risen!’, which was taken up by the whole congregation. Tapers were lit, and blazing fire ran from hand to hand in the darkness.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, besides, despite, if, may, or, whether.
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