The gates opened and two choirs sang in response:—
“Grant unto us, who are on earth, to glorify thee with a pure heart.”
The priests, now arrayed in light paschal vestments, issued from the sanctuary and the procession was formed.
The great bell of the Cathedral began to peal; it was answered by the bells of the other churches. Rejoicing peals then burst forth from all sides, accompanied by the thunder of cannon in salute from the Peter and Paul fortress.
The procession left the Cathedral and the outer doors were closed. The sanctuary had become empty and again every sound was hushed.
The Tsarevitch remained standing motionless with down-dropt head, gazing always in the same absent way: he forced himself to hear nothing, to see nothing.
From without came the voice, broken and feeble, of the Metropolitan, Stephen:—
“Glory be to the Holy Trinity which maketh alive, one and indivisible, now and for ever, throughout all ages.”
Then came other voices, low and subdued as though from a distance:—
“Christ hath risen from the dead!”