, 1922-04-20

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 one of
the big monasteries is of solid gold. captured from
Genghis Khan and erected by Peter the Great. II
weighs % 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 lkonostaz. a special stand for ikons.
In the Uspensky cathedral. is one of the marvels
Of 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 10 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 lnnumerable 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 one made famous by Cleopatra,
which she drank dissolved in vinegar" to i'm
press Mare 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 recipients of
untold offerings. Every religious holiday adds to
the wealth of the shrine.
The shadowy archives of the Russinn church
are interviewer with threads of Oriental splendor.
The magniicence 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 marvels
belonging to the Russian church.
Some of the most famous Jewels are kept I'm
frames of gold and adorn the lkon-stands and
walls OF monasteries. The candlesticks, the al.
tars, the ikons, even the gates are masses OF in.
valuable jewels and precious metal. The opulent
gorgeousness Of the cnthedrals almost is beyond
the widest Imagination.
Perhaps the least known of the hidden treasures
OF the churches is nothing else than n bed. This
bed Is of solid gold. Its pillars incrusted with pearls
and diamonds, Its head and foot adorned with the
Romanon crest set with almost priceless emcrnlds. |
II Is the bed OF n slave girl-a beautiful Clrcasslan,
who was captured In n Tartar raid and who be.
came first the favorite of n car and then his car.
ina. This was Anastnsin. whom Ivan the Terrible
loved and then beheaded with his own sword.
One night the palace wns stormed by the mob,
which carried of the gold bed, md, having no
other place TO put II where IL would be safe. car.
rled II to the Holy OF Holes OF the most mag.
nlhcent cathedral. This was the Vladimir cnthe.
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 aliye the memory Of the Clrcnsslnn.