Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1914-06-05

WW4SN II Use vi OI1bCA 5A4NOA cSnO 6OAA
a for drapery in oil paintings is
a remarkable and expensive ad
dition and so rare that in only
one place on this continent has
it been used. This is in the remark
able little Russian church in Sitka,
Alaska. In this church of the Greek
rites, which is consecrated in the name
of the Archangel and Archi-Strateges
Michael, these unusual paintings have
hung since the time of Russian SUI
premacy- They are noted up and down
the length Of the Pacific coast
The church itself is a small wooden
edifee, built in the shape of cross.
Its faded green walls are the first sight
that greets one on entering the beauti-
full Sitka harbor, which, with its is
lands, has been likened to the Sea Of
Japan. Innumerable ravens fly out
from the little belfry of the ancient
church to greet all incoming vessels.
The ediffce has three sanctuaries, the
largest of which is In the middle. AS
lis customary in Russian churches, the
body of the church is separated from
tbu0 odnCtOd1I Wy a. SCI 0Olly clQ ILLS 10
adorned by paintings with costly sill
yer castings In the middle are the
Royal Gates" remarkable for their
carving and through them the Holy
Sacrament Is brought. Above these
gates hangs a sumptuous ikon repre-
senting the Lords Supper" in ca
sing of silver. Fifty pounds of silver
ueNH IN, he an q
screen, and they represent over $4,000.
These ikons and the paintings in this
little Russian church in far away Alas
ka are remarkable not alone for their
unique treatment with silver, but for
the stories attached to them. The one
showing the Archangel Michael was
given up by the wreck of the ship
INeva. This ship while on her way to
Sitka was wrecked at the foot of near
by Mount Edgecomb and the sea swal-
lowed all the freight and furnishings
4 except this ikon, which, strange to
say, was the patron of the Sitka
church. 1t was found on the beach
among the breakers. Quite as remark
able Is the story attached to the ikon
of the monks of the monastery of
Seloyotsk. The crew of the ship
Nasliednik. which was wrecked 20
years ago, gave 1t because they were
saved In shipwreck OF this coast
by the merciful dispensation Of God.
In all these ikons the silver is laid on
for draperies and ornaments and is SO
arranged that 1t is almost impossible
to tell where the painting ceases and
the silver begins.
The Wonderful Madonna.
But the most remarkable of the
paintings in this old-new world church
hangs In the little chapel which is
part of the church, but opens from
the main edifice. This is one of the
most wonderful paintings of the Ma
donna ever given to the world, and it
has been aptly named "a pearl of &c
clesiastical art" The Sistine Madon-
ma of Sitka has a beauty all her own.
The face is lovely and gentle, with an
fnenable charm. The coIorings are in
subdued tones and the draperies of
beaten silver seem to blend in a re-
markable way with the various pig
ments. All along the Pacific coast
this beautiful picture OF the Madonna
is known and travellers go many miles
to see it.
The painting has been compared to
portrayals by Dolci and the various
presentations Of the same theme by
Murillo. Who would guess that in a
little weather-beaten church. in a little
visited corner of America, there is
such picture and still another paint
ing encased il silver and studded in
pearls?
When the Royal Gates are opened in
this old edifice all sorts of precious
objects are disclosed. There are gifts
from Siberia, from Kamschatka and
cross said to have been made from the
original cross There are rich vest.
ments and costly vessels studded with
gems. One remarkable vessel is used
In the ceremony of blessing the loaves,
an all-night vigil service in which
bread is distributed. This vessel is OF
pure silver and holds specimens of the
three principal products of the soil,
bread, wine and oil, which the church
consecrates for their sanctifcation
and that of the persons who partake
OF them In the course of time many
disasters have passed over this little
russian church, but the cross on its
tower still shines brightly, as when
me Russian colonists were supreme.
Inc Russo American company were
representatives of a great world pow
'er and through them the natives were
instructed in the spirit of the Russian
Aaith At length the Russian Tag was