THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



387 



DESPOLIATION OF THE PATRIARCHAL, TREASURY, SHOWING THE GOLD AND SILVER 



CHAUCES (SEE PAGE 385) 



Among the sand, rubble, shattered walls and fragments of glass, unholy hands rummaged for 

 jewels which were knocked from their settings in sacred vessels 



the shock of the explosion, and the cur- 

 tain rent in twain. Many valuable ikons 

 were stolen. 



The Law Courts are knocked about, 

 and the cupola of the famous Catherine 

 Hall is pierced by shell. In the rooms of 

 the experts or detectives, the fools of 

 revolutionaries, coming upon the poi- 

 soned organs, abortions, etc., had de- 

 voured them because they were preserved 

 in spirits ! 



The Nicholas Tower and Gate, where 

 Napoleon, in 181 2, broke the ikon of the 

 sainted Prelate Nicholas, but which has 

 remained uninjured since that time, has 

 now been subjected to heavy fire and 



riddled with shot and shell (see page 

 391). 



The case covering the ikon of St. 

 Nicholas is ruined ; the canopy above the 

 ikon is broken and hangs by a nail. On 

 one side the image of the angel is broken 

 and that on the other side of the image 

 is pierced. 



The representation of St. Nicholas be- 

 tween has been preserved, but around the 

 head and shoulders there is one continu- 

 ous pattern of shot holes. At the first 

 glance it seems that there is no ikon, but, 

 on looking more carefully through the 

 dust and rubble, there appears first the 

 stern face of the saint, with a wound on 



