Alabaster, in which the sacred myrrh is kept. This is a narrow-necked metal vessel covered with mother-of-pearl scales, with a cross on top made of precious stones. It is called alabaster from the greek - alabaster and a vessel made of it for storing aromas. According to legend, it is a likeness of the same alabaster from which mary magdalene poured out precious myrrh on the feet of jesus, as st. Evangelist mark testifies (xiv, 3). In the first centuries of russian christianity, an alabaster with myrrh was sent from greece to kyiv, from where it was taken to moscow. According to ancient custom, during the mysterious consecration of myrrh in the assumption cathedral in memory of the communion of our national church with the eastern, several drops from the alabaster are added to the myrrh and replenished with new ones, so that this sacred source would never dry up. Date: 1846—1853.
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