Identifier: petrogradpastpre00stev (find matches)
Title: Petrograd, past and present
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Steveni, W. Barnes
Subjects: Saint Petersburg (Russia) -- History
Publisher: Philadelphia : Lippincott
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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the large square, arethe statues of Koutosoff, the Russian cunctator, andBarclay de Toll, the two chief generals who helped todefeat Napoleon in 1812, and to drive him, baffled,over the frontier. Nowhere in Russia, save perhapsin Moscow, does one see so many mementoes of thisdisaster. In the cathedral alone there are one hundredand twelve eagles captured from the French army inits retreat, also a considerable portion of the plunderfrom Moscow, rescued from the French soldiers whenthey fled in disorder before the raging Cossacks and thefanatical peasants—who regarded the French as theBelgians now regard the Germans. The cathedral alsocontains the keys of Memel, Berlin and many otherEuropean cities occupied by the Russians after thatcampaign. One of its treasures is the Iconostase,which divides the principal altar from the body of thechurch. This beautiful ornament is of pure silver,weighing about forty poods, and is chased in a mostintricate manner; it is enriched with many icons 232
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■z o :5 O — a. Z < y. THE I^ZAN CATHEDRAL, ETC 233 glittering with rubies, sapphires and diamonds, andwas captured by the Don Cossacks and presented bythem to the church. The most valuable icon of all,however, is the one from which the cathedral derives itsname. The frame alone, containing the image of theVirgin, weighs ten poods (360 lb.), and is of pure gold,inlaid with hundreds of gems. In 1812 MarshalKoutosoff placed the image in liis bosom after prayingin the church, and set off to take over the supremecommand of his countrys forces against the hereticalFrench. Many Russians, especially those of the lowerclasses, believe that it was only due to the miraculousaid given by the Holy Mother of Kazan that hewas able to conquer, when all other help had provedvain. When Tochtemish, the Tartar invader, marchedagainst Moscow and the Kremlin, it is stated that bythe power of a holy icon borne in solemn procession bythe priest round the walls, the Tartars were compelledto retreat. Ru

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