The Dolores star., 1922-04-28

huba 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 czars and czarinas have been liberal
to the priests
Some Of the cathedrals possess treasures which
the big inonaseries Is OF solid gold. captured from
Genghis Khan and erected by Peter the Great. 1t
weighs 25 tons and Is studded with emeralds,
rubies, pearls and sapphres of the Orient. The
four largest rubies in the world worn by Emperor
Constantine, adOrn the top of it.
The great Ikonostaz, a special stand for ikons
In The Uspensky cathedral. is one Of the marves
OF the world. 1t is of gold and platinum and is
studded with precious stones. among them the
lost Lala stone said to radate light ut night and
also to have the power to heal the worshipers
These stones come from the treasures of Pharaoh.
On the lkonosaz 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 DOS.
SCISSOR of the "Perez." The Caesar pearl for GEN.
turies the subject of royal intrigue is said to be
the mate Of the one 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
sounding quality, will bring millions in gold rubles
The poorest of provincial churches are the
wealthiest factors in the country From ancient
times these churches have been the REGIMENTS 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 spendor
The magntcence 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
its most prosperous days anything like the maryels
belonging to the Russian church.
Some of the most famous Jewels are kent In
frames Of gold and adorn the ikon-stapds and
tars, the ikons even the gates are masses OF in
gorgeousness Of the cathedras 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 incrusted with
anu diamonds, Its head and foot adorned with the
Romanoff crest Set with almost priceless emeraIds
1t Is the bed of slave girla beautiful Crcassjon
who was captured In Tartar raid and who he
came frst the favorite of czar and then his car
ina. This was Anastasia whom Ivan the Terrible
loved and then beheaded with his own sword.
one night the palace was stormed bv the ,poh
which carried Off the gold bed and having M
other place to put 1t where 1t would be safe cor
ried 1t to the Holy Of Holies' of the most ,noa
innocent cathedral. This was the Vladimir catbe
dra, which still stands. Since then II has rp.tod
pehihu the altar. Every year the priests bayo
sh"wered upon 1t jewels given them bv those yvho
hn'e kept alive the memory Of the Circassian.