Antiquities of the russian country, 1846-1853. V. 1. Illustrator - solntsev, fyodor grigorievich mitra, or cap, presented by tsar alexei mikhailovich and tsarina maria ilyinichna to patriarch nikon in 7160/1652. This miter, called the larger one in the inventory, is one of the most precious in terms of the richness of the ornaments and the art of the work. Like the previous one, its gold apron, studded with ruffles, worm-like and azure sapphires, emeralds and diamonds, forms a four-pointed cross, connected at the top with a polygonal star in the apron, and at the bottom with a crown of large precious stones between two strands of pearls. The star serves as a footstool for a four-pointed cross made of diamonds and sapphires; another diamond cross is fixed on the front side of the mitre. Between the crosspiece, strung with strands of rounded pearls, four hallmarks with enamel images of the evangelists, with large emeralds, are inserted. Under the hallmarks on the enamel cloaks you can read the following inscription: this bishop's cap was made for the great lord, his holiness nikon, patriarch of moscow and all russia, on october 18, by order of the great sovereign tsar and grand duke alexei mikhailovich and his blessed tsarina and grand duchess maria ilyinichna. Although the inscription states 1651, the inventory of the patriarchal sacristy more correctly states 1653, since nikon was invested with the rank of patriarch on july 25, 1652. In 1775, this saint's mitre was remade at the request of his serene highness prince potemkin, when he, having left the court, studied the church charter at the alexander nevsky lavra and wore monastic clothes. Tradition says that potemkin tried on this mitre to see if it would fit him. The weight of this utensil is 6 pounds 6 1/2 gold pieces. Date: 1846—1853.
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