Anna Karenina: Part V, Chapter 4

Love Leading the Pilgrim, Edward Burne-Jones

Part V, Chapter 4 of Anna Karenina is loaded with Biblical references. The scene depicts the wedding ceremony of Kitty and Levin. Originally I wanted to keep all of these passages together in one post, but I kept exceeding the number of labels allowed! In order to label things correctly, I have split this post in two. Everything in bold is Biblical. The passages I will focus on today are highlighted.

When the deacon had finished the liturgical prayer, the priest turned to the bridal pair with a book: "Eternal God, that joinest together in love them that were separate," he read in a gentle, piping voice: "who hath ordained the union of holy wedlock that cannot be set asunder, Thou who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca and their descendants, according to Thy Holy Covenant; bless Thy servants, Konstantin and Yekaterina, leading them in the path of all good works. For gracious and merciful art Thou, our Lord, and glory be to Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and forever and ever." 

"Amen!" the unseen choir sent floating again through the air. 

" 'Joinest together in love them that were separate.' What deep meaning in those words, and how they correspond with what one feels at this moment," thought Levin. "Is she feeling the same as I?"

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"...bless Thy servants, Konstantin and Yekaterina, leading them in the path of all good works."

Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

"For gracious and merciful art Thou, our Lord . . ."

Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

More like this here.

" . . . glory be to Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and forever and ever." 

Romans 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.

For the first three verses in this passage, go here.

(Source: BibleGateway. Image Source: WikiPaintings)

Why follow this series?

Anna Karenina: Part V, Chapter 4

The Wedding, Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky

The Wedding of Levin and Kitty is full of references to Scripture. I counted eight within two pages. Keener eyes than mine may be able to point out more. Unfortunately I'm not familiar with the liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church, so I welcome input from readers who are.

"Blessed be the name of the Lord," the solemn syllables rang out slowly one after another, setting the air quivering with waves of sound.
"Blessed by the name of our God, now and hereafter," the little old priest answered in a submissive, piping voice, still fingering something at the lectern. And the full chorus of the unseen choir rose up, filling the whole church from the windows to the vaulted roof with broad waves of melody. It grew stronger, rested for an instant, and slowly died away." (Part V, Chapter 4) 

The line "Blessed be the name of the Lord." occurs multiple times in Scripture. I chose the following passage which I feel is representative of the joyful, hopeful nature of a wedding ceremony:

Psalm 113

King James Version 

113 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

² Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
³ From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
⁴ The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
⁵ Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
⁶ Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
⁷ He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
⁸ That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
⁹ He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

(Bible Gateway)