The Way of the Cross (Doroshevich)/The Way of the Cross
The Way of the Cross
IN 1812 Moscow made a funeral pyre for herself, and burned
—For Russia’s sake. A hundred years have passed.
And the red glare of Moscow’s fire has paled.
The Moscow of those days!
A wooden city.
The burning of it was appalling.
The ground burned under the feet of the Napoleonic soldiers: even the roadways of Moscow were made of wood at that time.
But now!
More than ten provinces have been laid waste by the enemy.
Millions of people have become beggars. And have fled.
From the places of their birth to the far centre of Russia stretches the Way of the Cross for these people.
And on this Way, as on that other Way-of Golgotha, are places, there are:
—Stopping places,
Where the people faint under the burden of the Cross.
Bobruisk. Dovsk. Roslavl.
These are names full of affliction.
These stopping places.
Especially:
—The memory of Roslavl is terrible.