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 stepA fast montage with shots of all sorts of people. Houses on shore; with steep hill BG. Then GV ancient (middle ages) castle perched on a hill. Elderly Franz Joseph; Emperor of Austria-Hungary; gets out of coach; son Charles I (who ruled after F-J’s death until Nov. 1918) & some other men in uniform stand holding salute. Next; Franz Joseph leads military inspection. CU Kaiser Wilhelm II; Crown Prince Wilhelm & other German bigwigs; military