New-York tribune., 1918-07-07

scription itself sets forth, and in the great
church itself are two fine images or icons
which belonged to the founder, having on
one Of them Despina represented with her
son Theodosius in her hands and the in
scrption % Queen Of Heaven, receive thy
servant John Theodosius and guard him in
thy kingdom
There is, Furthermore, piece of beauti-
full woven material from robe found in
enc Of the tombs carefully preserved in the
cathedral. In 1851 considerable additions
we're made to the original structure by
Prince Serbian Cantacuzene, but while Ru-
mania was under the Turkish rule-and for
q long period the districts Of Wallachia and
Moldavia were simply SO many roads across
which the Turks passed In their plundering
expeditions against Hungary--the buildings
erected by the Voivodes we're destroyed, SO
that in 1866, when the late King Carol visit
ed the place, he found the magnificent
building largely in ruin. He took the ad-
vice of Voillet lie Due as to it's restoration,
and the great French architect recommend
ed an artist named Lecomte de Neuy, who
gave immense pains to the task and. encour-
aged and aided by the King and by Carmen
SYLVIA who now, alas, lies within the build
ing, having died since $f1e days when they
graciously entertained me many times at
Sinaia, he restored the building in superb
style. Lecomte tells us in his own papers
how diligently ne visited the churches at
Jassy, Horsz, Cozia, Valcea, Padure and
Campulung, and from these famous build
ings acquired sound knowledge and deep
affection for the Rumanian architecture of
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Saturated with this knowledge, he set to
work, and now, with wonderful frescoes and
mosaics, glorious bronzes, rich marble,
stained glass, and gold, silver and wrought
iron, the whole place is a glowing feast OF
color. In architecture the building is rect
angular, with an irregular shaped annexe,
and Is surmounted by a dome with two
small cupolas and by great dome sur
mounting the annexe-a strange mingling
of Arab, Roman and Byzantine forms, char
acteristic Of the people whose national
shrine 1t has become. It's adornment Is that
of involved and intricate arabesque, COM
bined with wreaths of lilies carved on all
the windows, cornices and balconies. Won
derful bronze doors lead to its interior,
adorned with fine tapestry, superb marble
columns, elaborate mosaic decoration in the
saucers Of the domes, long and decorative
inscriptions, and extraordinary fresco work.
"The accessories for worship are, Of
course, all Of recent date, but specially de-
signed and carried out in the sentient de-
signs of Moldavia; and bronzes and crosses,
iconostass and icons, candlestcks and vest
ments alike speak Of incessant attention to
detail, profound study Of native art and
scrupulous adaptation to purpose. The
book Of the Gospels is alone worth jour
ney to see as. painted and illuminated By
Queen Carmen SYLVIA herself, it is one Of
the finest works of imaginative decorative
art that the century has produced, veri-
table triumph Of illumination, the highest
possible achievement of that gifted lady for
the sanctuary she loved so well and where
now she is buried
"The King and Queen devoted themselves
to this great work, becoming more Ru-
manian even than the Rumanans in their
earnest desire to help their people, and
their names will ever be feelingly sssociat-
ed with the cathedral, where masses for
their souls will perpetually be said"