Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-10-30
WEALTH OF RUSSIAN CHURCH
CATHEDRALS HAVE GOLD ROOFS
AND COST MILLIONS TO
BUILD.

1t Caused an Outlay of Over $780,
100000 to Erect ST. lsaac's in ST.
Petersbure-Name of the Almighty
BIazes in Diamonds From a Gold
Cloud.
Several English newspaper cores
pondents have, it is said, recently
been inspecting the 1913 gold in
gots and 1880 sacks of gold coin,
representing some 65,e0O,000 pounds
in hard cash, which are safely hous-
ed in the Imperial Bank of Russia
and which form Russias gold reserve,
but the fabulous wealth of the Russian
churches may be inspected by the
ordinary tourists without consulting
finance ministers or uniformed Of
fcials
The dome Of St. Isaac's Cathedral
in st. Petersburg is the most con
spicuous object in the city. 1t Is
covered with copper ov,rlaid wits
pure gold, no less than $1,000 pounds
worth of gold being melted down for
the purpose. Entering the cathedra!
DN inc nldSulnCGllI DlOA1C1 iHcAAs -
feet wide and 80 feet high, said to
be the largest in the world, the Wis
itor is overwhelmed by its richness
and massive splendor. The dome OF
the shrine is supported by eight Cor
inthian pillars of malachite, given by
Prince Demidoff and valued at 200,-
600 pounds The total cost of this
cathedral is estimated at 10000
600 pounds.
In the cathedral of the Kazan the
name OF the. Almighty blazes in ga
monds from cloud of beaten gold,
under which are solid silver doors
20 feet high leading to the inner sane
tuary. This church contains a beau
tiful picture of the Virgin Mary COW
cred with gold and jewels valued at
5000 pounds. In the monastery Oh
ST. Alexander NeysM, near the end OF
the Nevski Prospect, is the shrine OF
the founder, of pure silver, weighing
no less than $3.50 pounds.
MANY of the churches of Moscow
and they number some 1,4oO-con-
tain treasures of enormous value. III
the Cathedral of the Assumption, STU
ated inside the Kremlin, is the most
sacred picture of Russia, the VIZ
gin of Vladimir" painted by st. Luke,
The Jewels which adorn it are Valied
at $4,000 pounds, one emerald alone
being said to be worth 10000 POUNDS.
Napoleon took from the church tlye
tons of silver and five hundred-Welght
of gold, but it's most precious treas
ures were concealed previous to the
French invasion and afterward re-
stored.
Near by, in the Cathedral OF the
Annunciation, with it's many golden
domes, are a pavement OF agate ana
Jasper and the celebrated icon OF
the virgin of the Don, it's most priced
possession.
The icon of the Iberian mother OF
God has a small chapel to itself, just
outside the Kremlin. The icon is
occasionally taken out in gorgeous
carriage drawn by six horses, with
bare-headed attendants, to attend the
sick or dying. The fees for. sIch
visits amount to 10000 pounds.
The Cathedral of the Holy Savior
in Moscow is probably the most mag
nificent church in the world. It's hne
cupolas are covered with pure gold
one-eighth inch in thickness. Its
internal decorations are magnificent
and very costly. This church is the
nations thank offering for the de-
liyerance of Moscow from the French.
1t took so years to build and its cost
has beer estimated at 1O,OOO,OOO
pounds.
The robes of the Russian clergy are
the richest in the world. In the
house of the holy synod, inside the
Kremlin. may be seen vestments OF
fabulous value. One is embellished
with the Nicene creed embroidered IN
pearIs. There are no fewer than sew
en- miters studded with diamoncs,
rubies and emeralds; also golden
croziers of rare workmanship. The
boundless wealth, gorgeous decora-
lions and endless magnifcence of the
churches are in strange contrast 10
the poverty-stricken, unkempt peas
ants who throng the churches at all
hours of the day.