The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-08
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SUS SIM NV
,&H[/RCH.
St, Isaac's Cathedral, That
Cost s7,ooO,ooo, Requires
s5oo,ooo in Repairs
Each Year.
Bv Wilfriid Webster
Special Cable to The Tribune.

n EOSCOW. Oct. Moscow is world
IN famous for its churches. They are
|V numerous and striking. because
= v l. every Russian orthodox church
must be built after the Byzantine
style of architecture, with fine domes and
the splendid colored decorations OF the
east. Religion plays such a part In Rus
sia that IL is necessary to study It's rites
and conditions before one can under
stand the Slav outlook on life
A favorite roof color is green, with
white or yellow for the body OF the
church. In some cases, as In the Temple
of the Resurrection different colored
bricks are set In so that the walls are
a maze OF blue. red and green, mingled
together I'm fantastic designs,
Inside the walls are covered with what,
at distance. look like pictures. but arc
really mosaics. in which small pieces OF
stone are so wonderfully lifted together
that the figures have all the effect OF
masterpieces OF painting. Stone is but
rarely used for the structure on account
OF the frosts, which crack 1t. In st. Pet
ershurS. where YOU meet With church
AT every street corner. there is only one
built of stone. and that is granite. II is
St Isaac's cathedral and cost over $1,000.
900 to build. The bishop is proud of II,
but the repairs come 10 over half a mil
lion dollars every year. though 1t Is not
yet seventy years old The frosts. and
dalion, have already worked what IN q
miIder climate would be the havoc Of
centuries
Interiors Magnifcance.
Inside It's magnificence Is such that
ones eyes arc completely dazzled. Az
.bs pillars arc either Of solid porphyry
Inlaid with lapis lazuli and decorated
with bronze and gold-coVered capitols, or
OF malachite. iniaid with jade and fin
ished with eilded capitols, There Is also
feet long. made of solid gold; All the
vessels are OF gold, studded with prec-
ous stones. The ikoms. or sacred pie"
lures, are hung With Jewels. rings, dla-
which dcvout people have given rs peace
or thank offerings, 10 redeem some
vow made In time OF sickness or trouble,
Russians are mostly poor, but IT VIII
be seen the orthodox church Is not lack
Ing wealth.
Silence is rarely found in the churches.
During the services even the priests who
are not actually on duty walk about and
talk in loud whispers. The congrega-
tion takes no active part In the services
beyond crossing themselves three times
at stated Intervals The singing. given
exclusively by male voices and without any
accompaniment whatever, Won the admi-
ration even OF Berlioz. who wrote: LIT
exccls everything OF the kind iu Europe" F"
Children are very carefully trained for
this purpose in special schools. many
of which are maintained out of the Gears
prvy purse. The lower clergy, or dea-
cons, who need mol become priests. are
ALWAYS chosen for their, voices. and this
is why the players for the car and the
imperial family are always intoned With
perfect art,
There is no altar in the Russian church
The sacred hreud and wine are kept In
the enclosed space, or sanctuary. divided
from the rest OF the church by folding
doors. Here tho officiating priests robe
and unrobc here is tho bishops throne
and here. according 10 the canons, mel
The white" or secular clergy, must
marry once; but may not marry n second
time Bishops and archbishops are al
WAYS chosen from the "blaCk clergy. or
monks, who OF course. may not marry
at all. The duhovny. as the priests are
called. form n distinct class. so distinct
that IL has almost become caste Fat6er