PICKINGS FOR BOLSHEVIKS

Otago Witness, Issue 3342, 3 April 1918, Page 26

PICKINGS FOR BOLSHEVIKS

FABULOUS TREASURES IN CHURCHES. There are pickings in Russia for Bolsheviks with sticky fingers. The Church of the Holy Saviour in Moscow has five cupolas all covered with pure gold halfinch in thickness. This church took 50 yeurs to build, and cost £35,000,000. In the Cathedral of the Assumption, inside the Kremlin, there is a picture of the Virgin of Vladimir painted by St. Luke. It is priceless, and the jewels which adorn it are worth £250,000, one emerald alone being valued at £50,000. Near this building is the Cathedral of the Annunciation, which also has golden domes valued at £200,000. Its pavement of agate and jasper is priceless, and the glittering ikon of the Virgin studded with precious stones has been variously valued' at between £200,000 and £250,000. Any |stahvart patriot could tuck this jeweller's exhibit under his arm, and take it to a place of safety. In Petrograd is tho wonderful St. Isaac's Cathedral, with its dome of copper overlaid with beaton gold, worth a-t least"£2oo,ooo. The building and its fittings cost £25,000,000. But 'for easily portable trophies the House -of the Holy Synod, within the Kremlin in Moscow, should be most attractive to the get-rich-quick members of the community. It holds hundreds of sets of vestments of fabulous value. One alone, which is embellished with the Nicene Cz*eed, embroidered in pearls, is estimated to be worth anything from £250,000 to £300,000. There }s also a collection of seven mitres studded with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The value of the treasure housed within this majestic structure is roughlv valued at £50,000,000.