The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-30
OBITUARY..
The Metropolltan % A1osco,y.

letter from S. Petersburg, of the 9Th, says
that on the previous Sunday the great bell OF
the Kreniln announced TO the Inhabitants of
Moscow the death of the venerable Philante, the
senior Metropolitan of the Greek Church. This
event was quite unexpected, for he hal per-
formed divine service on the very day OF his
death. Alter leaving church he retired for
short time TO take some repose, and shortly atter-
wards he was discovered lying hfeless on the
floor, with his face turned to the holy image sus-
pended from the wall.
Philante was one of the ablest and most pro-
found Metropoitans of the Greek Church. For
fifty years he had presided over the See of Mo-
COW, and for more than seventy years he b ad
been one of the most prominent priests IN the
Church III Russia. By his extraordinary talents,
his broad Christian and philanthroplc lite, his
liberal views and kindly disposition, he had be-
come almost an object of alteration and worship
to the people of Russia. In influence be Iivalled
the Gar, but it was always lent TO GOOD cause.
He was an active supporter OF the imperial
dynasty, and a personal friend OF the present
Emperor, whose grandfather, Alexander, first
testified his appreciation OF his zeal and talents
by bestowiDg upon hlm the decoration of ST.
Anne, and subsequently oy raising him 10 the
lofty position of Metropolitan OF MOSCOW. The
Emperor Nicholas found In him drm friend
and wise counsellor, aud shoGered uoon
him the highest honors. Last spring, at the
hftieth anniversary of his call to the Episco.
pacy, the Emperor Alexander wrote him most
touching letter, congratulatng him on the
event, and expressing IN unqualified terms his
love and respect and his kind wishes for his tu-
/
curing the summer months, at the Troitskol
monastery, about forty miles from Moscow, one
of the holy shrines to which the devout made
yearly pllgrimages for hundreds ofmiles around,
His blessing was reward Tor all the cares,
tolls and suheTings OF the weary pilgrims, aud
they returned home light OF heart and supreme
ly happy.
Phiiante was nearly eighty FIVE years of age.
In Appearance he was OF middng height, erect
but of fragile and del cate orc anization. His
face was thin, but expressive; his long hair and
! a riarchal beard flo Hing down his breast were
white as snow, giving him a most venerable ap-
pearance. His voice was feeble, but hls intel
ect retained its vigor to the very last, while his
eyes, lustrous and expressive, never lost their
bIillancy. Atiled III his white, flo wing robes,
crowned WITH his high hat, from which fell, in
folds, the ecclesiastical veil OF lace, and wearing
uponhs breast the hie hest decorations ofthe EN-.
pire, along with massive golden cross, richly
studded with diamonds, attached to his neck
by heavy chain-the symbol OF his office-hc
was one of the most ineres ing and at the same
time impressive dignitarles in the world.
Mr.. Fox and the American officers paid him q
visit in 1866 at the Trolskoi monastery, and
were received by him in the most friendly and
genial manner He then manifested lively
interest in American affairs, and expressed his
warmest sympathy for the Union. His sudden
death will be BceDly felt wherever the Greek
religion extends, and especially in every habita-
ton, from the palace to the peasants hut
throughout the broad empire of Russia.
James Roper.
The Lynchburg VirgintdR gives the following
account of the death of a wealthy colored
man:-'We see il stated that James Roper,
the largest landhol6Pr and the wealihest
nan in Jefferson county, Virginia, is dead.
James Roper was a colored man, the natural
son of an eccentric Engishman, who bequathed
the most of his property to the recently de,
ceased, who added greatly to his pdtIlmonlal
estate. hoper had a great faculty for ac-
quiring property, and a mania for adding
| 10 bis large landed estate. Every year or two
! be would, purchase farm, Tor which we
| have known him to pay a much as Sll0 per
acre, when dollars were dollars. Roper was an
] intemperate man, yet such was his natural
shrewdness that nobody could take advantage
OF him in a trade, even when he was drunk.
He was quiet, inoffensive man. and as gene
rally esteemed as man of his habits could
expect TO be. He never voted, served on juries
or attempted to exercise rights denied by the
laws, yet he was as fully protected IN his rghts
of person and property as any man in VIRGINIA
and has, doubtless, left larger and more valua
BILE landed estate than any man now living II
this State can boast.