Daily American organ., 1856-11-05
WHOLE NO. 62l
AMERICAN ORGAN.
The Churches OF Moscow.


It would not be wonderful, indeed, ifa man got
tired Of Petersburg-its quays, its long straight
Streets half deserted, its Neva, and its population
OF soldiers, sailors, and civil employees To the
Russian there is historic interest attached to the
kremlin, and to Moscow, which it's rival can never
excite IL is the cradle of his glory, the palladium
Although Moscow has been burnt to the ground
ana scarce building in it is century old, TO the
muscovite IL Is still the stage which every grand
scene in the national story has been PLAYED out
IL was u the kremlin that Dimitri Donki displayed
the black nag when he, marched against the Tar
tars under Mamai, and overthrew their power for
ever and that Ivan Vassivitsch trampled beneath
his feet the picture of the Khan, to which the
princes oil Muscovy were obliged TO pay homage
and IL is there that long race of monarchs have
been crowned, and now rest in peace. There are
but fragments Of these historic buildings left but
their reviyas are just thought as much ofas though
they were original II Is the old Kremlin from
which you see old Moscow-the greater part Of it
just forty years old From the terrace beneath the
Palace OF the Gear one does indeed behold sur
prising proof OF the power and vitality of national
faith in the scene which is before him The only
other city in the world which bears the most re-
mote resemblance to Moscow is Constantinople
and, as there Is here neither sea nor steep hills
which forms 80 important an element In the effect
which makes you think Of the former as you stand
on the esplanade of the Kremlin, must be sought
for in the innumerablc mnaretke towers
The most striking feature Of the city is. indeed
the number and singular shape of the cupolas
which are placed on towers or pillars, slender ard
tall, like minarets, sprnging up from the sides or
bodies Of the churches They are bulbous in form,
the broad end downwards; and from the apex
there is always lofty cross, richly gilt or plated
These crosses are always placed in the concayes of
large crescents and it is said that the Tartars on
their victorious forays into Russia put these cres
cents on the SUBMITS of the crosses and that the
Russians on the defeat of the Tartars reversed
that order of position. These cylinders, surmount-
ed by cupoas must assuredly be Of oriental origin
just AZ the churches are copied from the Byzan-
tine, modified by the fantasy of the Italian and
German architects of the middle ages who ran
riot in brick and woodwork invention, unrestrain-
ed by any canons of taste or fear of criticism The
churches are, for the most part, very small, and
contain only few hundred people each, but this
is accounted for by the coldness of the climate.
which presents great difficulties to the Russian ar
chitect, who desires to keep his congregation warm
and comfortable in winter. Besides this, the more
churches the more priests--an important influence
in determining the why there are three or four
or five churches in Moscow where one would do any,
where else. Many of these churches are surround.
ed at the summit with pillar-like towers each sur
mounted with pear-shaped cupola, on the top of
which there is crescent supporting cross, and
from the midst of these towers there rises large
dome, on the summit of which shortee and larger
tower is erected, bearing aoft its cupos, crescent
and cross.
There are frequently added to the churches lofty
tapering belfries in many stages, some of them
conical, terminating in small cupoias and crosses
others mutilateral pyramids highly ornamented
indeed, the infnity and diversity of form of these
hal mil prpa ur,r,lap II
quite perplexing, and defy analysis. The huge
crosses and crescents invariably richly gilt or
plated, and the domes and cupolas are very fire.
quently decorated in the same expensive manner
Some of the crosses have large gilt chains attached
to the extremities and secured to the dubious Gu
polas beneath. The domes, instead of gliding or
plating, are now and then painted green ulfra.ma-
rine, or deep purple, and the color is glazed, 80
that 1t reflects the light from the metal covered
dome. Others are quantity carved like gigantic
pnc-apples, the facets being colored differently
one gilt, the other ltra-marine-presenting most
curious appearance in the suns rays. The centre
of this sea of green roofs crested with domes and
spires which fash like diamonds, is the Kremlin-
the most singular collection of churches, palaces.
befries, arsenals treasures curiosities galleries.
barracks, and parade grounds, in the world-the
soul of Moscow, which is the soul Of Russia.
In former days the whole of Moscow was con-
tanned within its walls, but now IL is reserved for
the Imperial residence and Court, and for the
guard in attendance on the Emperor The walls,
which vary in height according to the undulations
OF the ground, describe an irregular polygon, of
which the angles are marked by towers, and the
top OF the wall is erenelated, but there is little
appearance of antiquity about them, for they are
built of brick, and the whitewash has disappeared
in places, and leaves the red brickwork exposed
to view. Indeed, nearly every house in Moscow
is built Of brick, with foundations of calcareolD
stone, or OF wood. The brick is always covered
with stucco, which is painted buff, white, lemon,
or rose color and this gives to the city clean,
bright appearance which is marred by the dirty
state of the streets after rain. At distance the
view is enchanting by day; by night, the aspect
ofthe city Is mott strange and beautiful.--London
Times.