stone crosses to be seen in many parts of England.
Besides the inscriptions, emblems such as the spear and nails and
crown of thorns are often to be distinguished though conventionally
indicated.

Crosses on church tops are made of silver, wood, lead, and even
gold. The open-worked designs of many of them, although intended
to be placed at great height, are extremely elegant. They were
occasionally ornamented with coins, and those on churches erected
by the Tsar are surmounted by an imperial crown.

A crescent as a symbol beneath the cross is very frequent. Various
explanations of this symbol have been given. According to some it
is in remembrance of the victory of the cross over the crescent
on the deliverance from the Mongol yoke. Others think it to have
originated simply in the freak of some goldsmith, afterwards copied
by others until it came to be accepted as a necessity. It is certain
that the use of the crescent is anterior to the Mongol invasion,
and was an old symbol in Byzantium, as appears from coins.

The pastoral staff of Russian bishops is tau-shaped; and there
are many good old examples, a few in ivory, but for the most part
in silver-gilt. Processional crosses are also used.

The censer is a piece of church furniture in constant use in the
Russo-Greek church, and we find several examples very characteristic
of Russian art. As in the west, the application of architectural forms
is very frequent, and it is not surprising that the peculiarities of
Russian ecclesiastical ornament should be prominent and especially
the dome which naturally suggests itself.

Amongst the objects kept in the sacristy of the patriarchs in the
Cathedral of the Assumption, in Moscow, is one which is held in
special veneration. This is the vase in which is preserved the
deposit of holy chrism used in the annual preparation of holy oils
for distribution to the various churches of the empire.

The preparation of this oil is an occasion of great ceremony in
Holy Week. From the fourth week in Lent the preliminary mixings of
oil, wine, herbs, and a variety of different ingredients begin. In
the Holy Week these ingredient are prepared in a public ceremony:
two large boilers, several bowls and sixteen vases together with
other vessels being used. All of these are of great size of massive
silver, and, presented by Catherine II. in 1767, are specimens of
silver work of that time.

_THE CREEDS OF RUSSIA_

_ERNEST W. LOWRY_