Imperial Russia Alexander Lebedev

[Ed_Haynes]

An odd recent arrival. A token imperial group.

Priest Alexander Lebedev of the St. Sergius Monastery.

[Ed_Haynes]

Doing what I can to clarify his image.

[Ed_Haynes]

The reverse of the photo.

He seems to have been born in 1867, with this picture taken on 20 May 1898.

[Ed_Haynes]

For those who don't know St. Sergius . . . see:

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity-St._Sergius_Lavra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troitse-Sergiyeva_Lavra

http://www.stsl.ru/languages/en/index.php

http://www.lavra.ru/

http://www.musobl.divo.ru/archit_e.html

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/657

Edited September 21, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

His medals (remounted from what he is shown wearing in the photo):

1- Medal for Zeal ? Nicholas II, in silver, 1894-19

2- Medal for Efforts in the First General Census of the Population

[Ed_Haynes]

The backside.

[Ed_Haynes]

His cross with chain, silver-dipped bronze (but most of the silvering is now gone).

[Ed_Haynes]

Close-up (4-3/4" in height, 2-1/2" in width and 1/8" in thickness).

[Ed_Haynes]

The reverse.

This has been translated to me as: "Image. Be true, with your word, life, love, spirit, faith, and purity." The date is inscribed as "Year 1896 Day of May 14th". The large inscribed "N" stands for Nicholas II.

[Ed_Haynes]

And, finally, a hand-painted porcelain pocket-sized icon.

[Vatjan]

Thanks for showing these Ed. That inscribed cross is a real beauty. And a picture always brings a group to life.

Too bad these imperial items are so expensive, otherwise I would readily go down that slippery slope.

Best regards

Jan

[Chris Liontas]

Ed that cross is absolutely outstanding!! Thank you so much for showing it. The Orthodox Crosses from Russia can be such works of art! Love seeing them