Extracted from “The Literary Panorama by Charles Taylor,
1807”
Supplication for Rain by the Armenian Christians.
The uncommon series of dry weather in the district of Madras
gave occasion to solemn service in the Armenian Church at Madras on Sunday
November-- 1806. After the customary Mass, prayers were read, and the
Rev. Arathoon Simeon, the Vicar, in a short discourse from Kings
xvii.1.xviii.1.43.44.45. Isaiah i.5. “
I will command the clouds that they rain non rain etc” stated
instances and reasons of similar visitations with which Providence chastised
corruption of morals, and neglect of religious duties in the days of the
prophets, exemplified the contrition and conduct of pious men of old, and
exhorted his audience to penitence and supplication.
After this, a Hymn, commencing Turn thy wrath from us they earthly
creatures: benevolent Lord, spare and do not let us perish etc was
sung, kneeling before the altar, with every mark of humility and
devotion. This was followed by an appropriate prayer, and recital of
Psalm vi.xxxiii.li.cii.cxxx.cxliii. the whole concluded with the Lord’s Prayer:
in which the sentence thy
will be done in Earth as it is done in Heaven, was emphatically
repeated by the Vicar, to which a feeling chorus of Amen was audible from the whole
congregation. In their own country the Armenians perform this service on
such occasions, in the fields and arid plains.
