NOVOGOROD. 
of imaginary beings, that it might be supposed 
a Pagan rather than a Christian temple. The 
different representations of the Virgin, through- 
out Russia, will shew to what a pitch of ab- 
surdity superstition has been carried. Almost 
all of them are to be found in the principal 
churches ; and the worship of them forms a 
conspicuous feature in the manners of the Rus- 
sians. Some of those pictures have a greater 
number of votaries : but, although they be all 
objects of adoration, yet they have each of them 
particular places, where, as tutelary deities, they 
obtain a more peculiar reverence ; and some- 
times there are small chapels and churches 
dedicated particularly to some one of these 
representations : — such, for example, as The 
Virgin op Vladimir ; The Virgin with the 
Bleeding Cheek; and The Virgin with 
Three Hands ! The authors of the Universal 
History assign this last picture to the church 
of the Convent of the New Jerusalem. It was 
perhaps originally painted as a barbarous re- 
presentation, or symbol, of the Trinity ; and in 
that case it more properly applies to another 
convent in the neighbourhood of Moscow. The 
following story has, however, been circulated 
concerning its history. 
29 
CHAP. 
II. 
An artist, being employed on a picture of the 
