Holy Russia (1916)

Holy Russia - Regiment of Cossacks blessed by priest before going into action in the Caucasus - 1916. Religious ceremony held outdoors. This is strange and mysterious ritual. The Cossacks (with long belted coats and hair cut very short or shaved off) file past; each stopping; bending over a table; and kissing something on it; perhaps the Bible; then they step to the right; and priest touches their head with a ceremonial object that looks like a large paintbrush or a feather duster; finally; they step again to right and kiss something else which is held up by another guy in a Cossack long coat. Next; the priest walks along row of Cossack soldiers; with several military men following; the man closest to him carries a bucket of something like holy water. The priest dips the brush into the bucket repeatedly and sort of shakes it at the soldiers in the row. Priest reading while Cossacks stand; raising their right arms as in making a pledge or oath. Shot of priest blessing the flag; making motions in front of it