Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-10-30
WEALTH I'M RUSSIAN CHURCH.
Cathedrals Have Gold Roofs and Cost
Millions to Build.

Several English newspaper correspond
ents have, ii is said, recently been in
spcttinS the l5,Hl5 gold mgots and l2,jJ
! sacks of gold coin, representing som
| 4.61,CO0,c00 in hard cash, which ;llv s;uci,
! housed in the imperial bank of RUSS;
and which form kuSsiaS gold reserve
! churches may be inspected by the ordi
! nary tourist without consulting finance
| ministers or uniformed officials, says Il
! writer in 1it-BitS.
! The dome OF St. ISaaC'S cathedral in St.
| Petersburg Is the most conspicuous OBJ
| icCt in the city. 1t Is covered with cor
per ovCrl;!id with pure gold, no less than
t-;GlUD worth of gold being melted down
! Ter the purpose. Entering the cathedral
by the magnificent brOnzcd doors, forty
four feet wide and thirty feet high sand
to he the largest in the world. the visitor
is overwhelmed by its richness and mas
sive spl"ndOr. The dome Of the shrine is
supported by eight Corinthan pillars Of
rnalachltc, given by Prince Dcmidut and
valued 1T e2o0.Oo0. The total cost Of this
cathedral is estimated at 9l0,CON 00O.
In the cathedral ci the kazan the name
Of the Almighty blazgS in diamonds from
Il CLOUD Of beaten gold. under winch ar.
To the inner sanctuary. This church con-
tH!nS i beautiful plctur" OF the Virgin
Mary covered with gold ANA Jewels
valued az E15.000. In the monastery Of
ST. Alexander NCvSki. near the end of the
Ncvski prospect. is the shrine of the
founder. Of pure SILVER, weighing no less
than 80 pounds.
Many Of the churches of Mnscow-ard
they number some I,HC-Contlin treasures
of enormous value. In tn" Cathedral of
tho Assumption. situated inside the
Nrenlin, is the most sacred picture OF
Russia, the Virgin ot Vladimir" paintel
by St Luke The jewels which adorn it
arr valued at Gi3.U0, one emerald alon,
being said to be worth El0.O00. Napoleon
took from the church i've tons OF silver
and h0-weiEht of gold. but its most preci
Gus treasures were ct,I,CpIlCd nFtViN,g
the French invasion and afterward re-
stored.
Near by, in the Cathedral Of the An
nuuciation. with its many golden doneS
are Il pavement of agate and jasper and
tht celebrated icon OF the Virgin OF thu
Ion its most priced possession.
The icon of the lborian hIoth"r of God
has n small chapel to itself. just outside
the krcmin. The icon is occasionally
taken out in q gorgeous carriage drawn
by six horses. with bareheaded attend
ants, to attend the sick or dying. The
fees for such visits amount to $4,000
Tho Cathedral Of the Holy Savior in
Moscow is probably the most magnificent
church in the world. It's fine cupolas are
thickness. Its internal decorations ar"
magnificent and very costly. This church
is til" nations thank Offering for the a."
livcrance of Moscow from the French. 1t
took fifty years to build and its cost has
been estimated at ci0G0O.cO0
The rohcS Of Russian clergy are the
richest in the world In the house of the
holy synod. inside the Kremlin. may be
seer vtstments of fabulous value Ono is
cmb"lishcd with the Nicene creed EN-
hrudcred in rcarls. There are no fewer
than seven mitcrs studded with diamonds,
rul'ics and neralds; also golden croZf6r'
Of rare workmanship. The houndlcss
wealth. gorgeous decorations and endless
magnificcnce Of the churches are H.
unkempt peasants who throng the
churches ut all hours of the day.