Happy Easter!

I came to Calcutta yesterday. I am here to do some research on Subhas Chandra Bose (if anything turns up, I’ll be sure to post — are you waiting with bated breath?? It’s pretty interesting, actually!). I timed my visit to coincide with Easter so that I could attend services at St. Paul’s, the Anglican cathedral built in 1847, the first Episcopal church in Asia.

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The church seats between 800 and 1000 people and it was completely full. Attending the Easter service was a bit like being in Canada — familiar… but different! The service began at 8:30 a.m. and was conducted in English (I was one of maybe 5-6 Anglos there). A Bengali service was scheduled for 10:30 — I should have gone to that too, it would have been interesting. (I gave a miss to the 6:30 a.m. “sunrise” service…) Although there was not much music, we did sing four hymns, including “The Strife is O’er,” and “Lift High the Cross.” Very moving to sing these familiar hymns in such a different setting.

In Hindu temples it is the custom to take off one’s shoes and I noticed that many people had taken off theirs. Another example of Indian culture in this distinctly Anglican setting was the Eucharist — as soon as the Eucharist began, people immediately popped out of their chairs and made their way to the center aisle. (This was old style seating, with a long desk that ran in front of each row, and individual kneelers, which were not used). Standing in line can be a rough and ready experience in India — you snooze, you lose — so I couldn’t help but wonder how this would translate out. With a few exceptions (!), it was quite orderly!

Given that alcohol is so difficult to find here (have I complained about that before? I think I have complained about that before) I was curious about whether they would use wine for the Eucharist. When the priest got to me, he (no female clergy at this service) asked me something. I said “yes” (when in doubt, say yes) because what I think he must have asked me is whether I wanted him to intinct the communion wafer. (My spell-check is rejecting “intinct”.) Anyway, this is when my question was answered — he dipped the wafer in the chalice and put it on my tongue and it was…. well, I think it must have been vinegar!