The Snowflake herald., 1922-04-28

Kubla Knan, Ghengis Khan, later Persian Shahs
all have given their share, in the shape of loot,
to the crusading soldiers of the little fathers.
And cars and czarinas ever have been liberal
to the priests
Some of the cathedrals possess treasures which
are almost inconceivable. An altar in of
the big monasteries Is of solid gold captured from
Genghis Khan and erected by Peter the Great 1t
weighs 70 tons and Is studded with emeralds,
rubies, pearls and sapphires of the Orient. The
four largest rubies in the world, worn by Emperor
Constantine, adorn the top of 1t.
The great IkonOstaz a special stand for ikons
In the Uspensky cathedral, is one of the marves
or the world. 1t is of gold and platinum and Is
studded with precious stones, among them the
lost Lala stone said to radiate light at night and
also to have the power to heal the worshipers.
Ihese stones come from the treasures of Pharaoh.
On the Ikonostaz is the famous inter Of Nixon,
which, in addition to innumerable other priceless
Jewels contains the pearl of julius Caesar and the
Perez" pearl. These two pearls are the most
famous jewels in history. A king Of Persia who
ruled in the Fourth century, was the original pos
SCISSOR of the "Perez" The Caesar pearl for GEN.
turtles the subject of royal intrigue is said to be
the mate Of the made famous by Cleopatra,
which she drank dissolved in vinegar" to i'm
press Marc Antony.
The melting Of all the gold and platinum, the
latter used almost universally in the making of
the church bells because of its supposed wonderful
The poorest Of provincial churches are the
wealthiest factors in the country From ancient
times these churches have been the recipients Of
untold offerings. Every religious holiday adds to
the wealth Of the shrine.
The shadowy archives of the Russian church
are interviewer with threads of Oriental splendor
The magnicence of its priceless collection Of treas
ures some of them secreted in repositories un-
known to the authorities, is unparalleled In the
world No other country ever has owned even In
it's most prosperous days anything like the marvels
belonging to the Russian church.
Some of the most famous jewels are kept in
frames Of gold and adorn the ikon-stands and
tars, the ikons, the gates are masses Of In
valuable jewels and precious metal. The opulent
gorgeousness Of the cathedrals almost is beyond
the widest imagination.
Perhaps the least known Of the hidden treasures
of the churches Is nothing else than bed This
bed is of solid gold its pillars ncrusted with pearls
Romanoff crest Set with almost priceless emeralds
1t is the bed Of slave girl-a beautiful Circassian
who was captured in a Tartar raid and who he.
came first the favorite of and then his czar.
ina This was Anastasia, whom Ivan the Terrible
loved and then beheaded with his own sword
One night the palace was stormed by the mob
which carried off the gold bed, and, having no
other place to put 1t where 1t would be safe car.
red it to the "Holy Of Holes" of the MOST moo
nifcent cathedral. This was the Vladimir catbe.
dral, which still stands Since then it has rested
behind the altar. Every year the priests have
showered upon 1t jewels given them by those who
have kept alive the memory Of the Circassian.