Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

Horn blasts announced the arrival of the bride’s train. Encouraged by Ilia’s doubtful
jokes, Konrad and the Bredows positioned themselves halfway between the gate to the
churchyard and the door of the cathedral.
The riders and footmen helped the guests descend from their carriages and then formed
an honor guard through which Irakli led the completely veiled bride. Two young cousins of
Alexandra’s strew flowers before the bride. Following them walked Deda and George, and
David escorting their old mother.
Excruciatingly slowly Irakli and Alexandra moved towards the groom.
Bredow and Konrad pulled their hats, and Konrad made a deep bow before Irakli. He
had been encouraged to repeat his Georgian marriage proposal, which he did now. Under the
applause of the guests Irakli and Konrad embraced.
Konrad, with the Bredows at his side arranged himself behind the bride and her father,
and together they walked into the church.
As was customary in Orthodoxy they entered in complete silence accompanied only by
the crackle of hundreds of flickering candles. In front of the iconostasis waited two priests and
their young acolytes in full ecclesiastical regalia. The priests placed the customary
interconnected wreaths on the couple’s heads and began chanting the wedding service. It was
all very slow and solemn. The wreaths had to be exchanged three times between them, and
eventually Konrad was allowed to remove the veil from Alexandra’s face. She looked pale but
managed a brave smile.
Briefly Alexandra’s mind wandered back to the scene in Shuamta a month ago. She was
startled by the priest’s question, "Are you willing to be husband and wife until death separates
you?" But Konrad’s "Yes" returned Alexandra’s composure. Loud and clear she made her own
vow. "Yes, I will to the end of my days."
Niko produced the rings on a small cushion. Konrad put hers on her finger, and she the
other one on his. The priest pronounced them husband and wife, and they kissed. A loud,
cheerful murmur went through the guests. Deda could be heard crying copiously.
Konrad had been given precise instructions: hand in hand they would have to follow the
priests into the otherwise inaccessible Holy of Holiest behind the iconostasis. There Konrad
was to deposit a sizable amount of money on a square, one-legged marble table that he would
find in the sanctum. He should not be surprised, this circumambulation was usually performed
in a great hurry.
A surprise awaited Konrad behind the iconostasis—he found the one-legged table at
exactly the same spot as the "phallic post" in the desecrated sanctum of Zedazeni...!
To the applause of the guests, they walked arm in arm, a radiant Alexandra waving with
her white glove to her friends, behind the singing priests back out of the church, where the
liveried horsemen stood at attention forming an arch with their sabers through which they had
to duck.
David Chavchavadze acted as the delicately circumspect tamada at the big feast that
night. Toasts alternated with long speeches in German, Russian, and Georgian praising the
couple, telling stories from their lives, and making jokes about Konrad’s red beard and their
future children. Konrad amused the guests by reading a short speech in Georgian which
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