Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-24

walls ana cellines, form the charm o. thIs
Of vsry Different character h The new
Church Of the saviour, Just completed.
1t it magnificent building and cousDlc-
uousIy placsd on slight elevation out
side the KremIlp, where IL kiided dones
con fc seen from every quarter. Unlike
tic old churches. its beauty does MT con-
sist IN Jewels. banners. and embroidery.
hut In magnificent marbles. BY the sides
OF the doors are solid pillars OF Siberian Jas
per, on background OF porphyry; and the
walls Of porphyry panelIed with labridor
and the floor Of the same materials are highly
reIished. The church contains some Won
dieriuI paintings. aud arching these, und
also the doorways, are enameIled borders OF
golden stairs set In Iapis.lazuli and por-
phry. The ceiling Is beautifully frescoed.
End the painting on the dome represent.
Father, Sou, and Holy Spirit; In Russian
churches we never see the Virgin put In
the most prominent position. as In the
Latin churches. but she II placed chief
-smong the saints
A large and beautiful temple OF white
marble. exquisitely carved In open-work
patierns. represents this holy place. This
building within building as the effect at
a little distance Of the finest Chinese cary
ing.
We attended q morning service at this
church on Sunday. The people aII stood,
aud The service was intoned; priest with
the deepest Of bass voices repeated, SEN
tfnce by sentence. part Of the service. the
choir ct the side responding. Then the
pri, st with the tremendous voice descend
ed the steps OF the altar and stood in the
- 81 ~ ha
OF the temple were thrown open, aud
from them a bishop with two assistants
'csme forth. all In robes OF red. yellow, and
gold golden plate was handed the bishop.
fIom which be took large golden cross
and waved IL before the people. whereuDon
they oil bowed their heads. crossed them.
selves many times. and, whenever space per-
mhted, bowed I'll, their foreheads touched
The ground. The deep-voiced nTicst began
y hat might have been an exhortatlon; for
The monotone gradually changed into ea:n-
est. pleading notes, which sweled till they
filed every part OF the cathedral with their
tremendous mower. Then the bishop en-.
tered the marble temple. the priests follow
my, and the golden doors we're closed.
The Simonoff monastery Is an interesting
collection OF buildings, several centuries
old, which. being an hours drive outside
the city, escaped the rnvages OF the big fire.
At one time these monks owned 1900
ssrfs. aud n)w they are 10 possession OF
beautiful and extensive grounds. We en-
Joyed good cup OF tea under the shade OF
their fine trees. IL was nicely served in an
elaborate urn. and we drank it in the Rus.
sian style, with bit OF lemon bread. butter,
and sweetmeats completed our meal. We at
tended their vespor services, and during
the chanting about twenty monks, most OF
them large men. with long black flowing
curls. fol m. d themselves in the centre OF
the chapel into three sides OF square; on
the fourth side stOod.a lite boy, who In
high soprano voice read from book. while
the united voices Of the monks responded
10 each sentence In mighty bass.
Among this cluster OF buildings l. high
tower, from which one has fi0e view OF
The city. but TO me the most beautiful view
OF Moscow Is from the tower OF Ivan. which
stands within the walls Of the Kremlin.
This is their campanile. and has thirty-four
bells. graduating in size from the two sweet
toned silver bells at It's summit to the one
at the base weighing sixtv.four tons. A
much larger bell 0he largest in the world
rests outside the tower. 1t stands twenty.
six feet high. 1t was broken In the attempt
to hang il, and now the monster lies on the
ground with the broken piece by Its side.
One is well rewarded for climbing this
tower: the beautiful city spreads out be.
fore his eyes far on every side, for its cir
conference Is twenty-five miles; the
Moskya, with its picturesque bridges, lies
direc at his feet. and pursues its wind.
ing way through the city. Many trees are
scattered among the spires and turrets.
making rerad frames for the multitude OF
domes, some Of green. yellow, and gold,
while others are OF dazzling whIteness.
These lovely pictures make one feel that,
in spite Of the long and tedious journey.
Moscow well repays the traveller fora visit.