Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-28

burg exist merely because their soverelgns
wllled that they should he. II requires
more money in some instances to build the
foundations of an edilice, than to erect the
suporstruclure.
No single thing in Russia IL more charm
ing than the tone of tho church BELLS Ours
are sharp and metallic in sound, so that it
is a relief to the ear when the clang ceases.
Russian bells are deep, smooth, rich and
ever welcome to the ear So ponderous is
their size that no human arm could swing
them, but two men upon a platform near
the bell swing the tongue by rope attach
ed. Seated ut our window we saw the
thronga on their way to the churches, and
contrasted theirs with our own simple SER
vice. The canon still holds there that all
mast attend mass before sunrise. Yet as
all cannot come then the chief service is at
midday, when the large churches are
crowded with devout worshipers. Their
piety forms no check on crime, however
and those who attend the early mass have
the whole day before them for sin. The
great cathedral is not gothic in its archi-
lecture like ST. Paups of London or st.
Peters Of Rome, or like the Capitol at
Washington. 81. Isaacs OF 81. Petersburg
is ~ the form Of a Greek cross most of the
grand churches are built in the form of the
Latin cross. This church is built of finer
materials, and is moro carefully construct
ell than most churches. over the intersec-
ton Of tue arms of the cross rises lofty
dome, the most conspicuous object OF the
| city, four hundred feet from apex to tho
ground. This dome is supported by a
great number Of immense pillars each a
single stone Of Finland granite. The out
side of the dome was covered with copper.
The Emperor Nicholas wanted it covered
with plates of gold. lie was reminded
that such a proceeding would involve
great outlay of money, yet carried his
point, and fourteen bushels OF gold pieces
were melted to plate the dome. The sight
is truly magnificent. Before we entered
the port OF Kroustadt, being twenty miles
or so at sea, we saw a star blazing brightly
on the horizon, and were told that II was
the gilded dome OF st. Isaacs. The in,e-
rior of the vast church is grand, rich, but
simple. No large pictures, no side chap
els, no priest constantly absorbing the sins
crumbling plaster as at st. Peters, but the
walls are of polished porphyry and mar
BILE. The eastern arm of the cross Is shut
off from the main room by a curtain.
Within this is the most sacred place of tho
church-the Holy of HOLES. According TO
Russian law no woman might enter there
mot even the Empress. But for a sufli-
cient consideration the attendant in charge
allowed the wife Of the speaker to inspect
the place at her leisure. The pillars near
the altar or shrine, and the lintels OF the
doors are of lapis lazuli, and were present
cd by noble at a cost of one million dol
lars. There are no seats in the church. All
stand during service of more than an hour.
The men are more devout than the women,
trait observable throughout Russia. No
musical instruments are used during SER
vice. The bass voices are marvellous in
depth, smoothness and power. All Europe
Is searched for these voices, and their pos
SCISSORS are sedulously trained and cared
for by the church. Every Russion on en-
tering the church buys a slender wax ia
per which he lights ard places in plate,
and then begins his genuflexions aud MUIR
INJURED prayers. This lighted taper is re-
manning feature OF fire. worship which is
engralted with their religion. We left the
church with hearts aching for the people
whose hearts were fed on such husks and
chat. This teaching is as far from the
true religion as is that Of the Cooiie in Chi
ma. We think we are sometimes extrava-
giant in church building, but all the church.
DC If Ian in nm
hardly cost as much as this single church
OF st. Isaac's. We are informed, through
official sources, that as we reckon gold to-
day its cost is about one hundred and twen-
ty millions of dollars. The Capitol at
Washington cost twelve million dollars, or
one-tenth as much. The Pacific railroad
absor bed nearly one hundred millions OF
dollars so that IL cost less 10 span a broad
continent than TO build this church.
The tombs OF Peter the Great, and his sue
cessors, are extremely simple and are all
alike, those OF the children differing mere
ly in size. The Russians hang in their
churches trophies of successful campaigns,
arms, banners, swords and the like.
Though no large paintings adorn their
churches, small paintings of the Virgin are
often seen, sometimes almost buried in
gems and jewels of great value. Indeed
the wealth of these precious stones is al
most fabulous. No wonder diamonds are
so expensive in America when so many
find their way to st. Petersb urg.
Over the gate OF the Kremlin at Moscow
is an old picture Of the Virgin. This pic
ture is revered as the guardian of the city.
Napoleon, annoyed at this apparently sim
pie creduli.y, pointed his cannon at the
picture. Two OF his soldiers were killed at
the first shot by the bursting of the guns,
but the pictureremained uninjured though
the walls about it are marred by their balls.
The Gar cannot pass under this sacred pic
ture without removing his hat,
The tenets of the Greek church embrace
many of the doctrines of the Romish
church, including baptism, penance and
extreme. JUNCTION The sacred oil, used by
the Bishops, is prepared in golden vessels,
of the finest olive oil, aud essences, the
quality of which is fixed by law. To this
is added a few drops of oil from the oil
flask of tho Magdalen who washed the Saw
louis feet. This oil is prepared only at st.
Petersburg, and is distributed throughout
the empire. The common people of Rus
STA know nothing Of the Bible, yet the gov
eminent has in its possession the oldest aud
most valuable copy of the Bible in the
world, called the Sinaiatic Codex. The
style OF writing observable in these old
parchment manuscripts varies through
succeeding ages, each being as clearly de-
fnel as are the Xarioms slYles of archiIac-