$500,000 Russian Icon comes to the Fair (New York Journal American. Jan. 9, 1964, by James L Kilgallen)

One of the most historic and magnificent of all the world’s icons - the Russian “Our Lady of Kazan” will be enshrined in a Chapel at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair.This was disclosed yesterday by John I. Hennessy, consultant to the most Rev. John Shahovskoy Archbishop of San Francisco and the Western United States of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America

The trip was made to raised funds for the purchase of the privately owned Icon and restore it to the Church so that it will not fall into the hands of the communists.

 

Once Enshrined in Kremlin

The Icon which was protected by armed guards on the 18.581 mile trip is estimated to be worth at least $500,000. It is basically a painting on wood weighing 10 pounds and dazzling with jewels.

Painted around 1400 AD, the image enshrined in the Kremlin in Moscow from 1630 until after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, After the revolution in it fell into private, hands and was sold to raise funds to help, the revolution. It finally found its way to England

Its surface sparkles with 663 diamonds many of them, such as those in the Virgin’ s crown in total some 80 carats ; 153 oriental rubies of about 53 carats, 32 huge emeralds about 220 carats 6 large sapphires of about 30 carats; 150 baroque and other pearls.

Icon was taken to many churches

Mr. Henley said that on the tour the Icon was taken to Russian and Greek Orthodox churches for services and also Chapels of other denominations.

Cities, visited included Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Winnipeg, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, New York City, Buffalo, Albany (NY), New Haven Montreal, Ottawa and Boston.

In New York the Icon was shown at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Cathedral and at Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Church.

Special assemblies were held at Maywood College in Scranton, Pa., At Notre Dame College and St Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, in parochial schools in Lykens Pa. and Newark NJ and at a meeting of the Central Board of the World Council of Churches in upstate Rochester.

The miraculous Icon is s now in a San Francisco vault for safe keeping by the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church. This church was separated from the Bolshevik-Dominated Moscow Patriarchate in 1924.

An “Our Lady of Kazan” shrine is to built in San Francisco, birthplace of the United Nations.

Archbishop Shahovskoy in Francisco has been quoted as saying in that “Our Lady of Kazan” is more than a symbol of greater hope and peace - it is a return to Godliness and a unifying force for all Christendom and risen of good will everywhere,”

Fair’s shrine replica of Russian chapel

The Icon is now owned by Miss Anna Mitchell-Hedges of England. One of the dying wishes of her late stepfather F.A. Mitchell-Hedges from whom she inherited the Icon, was that it be restored to the church in such a manner that it could not come under the influence of the Bolsheviks, either directly or indirectly.

The Icon will be enshrined in a replica of the Fort Ross Russian Catholic Chapel at the New York’s World’s Fair. The Chapel is now under construction, Mr. Hennessy said.

The Icon is expected to remain in America as a great art treasure.

Russian Orthodox Pavilion at the World Trade Fair

The Russian Orthodox Pavilion will feature the Miraculous Ikon of Our Lady of Kazan which will be enshrined in a full scale replica of the Fort Ross (Russ) Russian Orthodox Chapel. Our Lady of Kazan is the Patroness of Russia.

The Holy Ikon was enshrined in Moscow from 1630 until after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 when It was sold into private hands. It dates from 1300 approx. The jewel encrusted rizza (1,109 gems), which covers all but the faces of the Virgin Mother and Child dates from 1630 approx.

Funds are being raised to restore the Holy Ikon to the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America, sponsors of the exhibit. The Church in America separated from the Moscow Patriarchate in 1924 because of the domination of the Patriarchate by the Communists. A Shrine of Our Lady of Kazan is to be built in San Francisco for permanent enshrinement of the Miraculous Ikon.

Other icons and religious objects will complete the Chapel exhibit which has an adjoining kiosk where color reproductions of the Miraculous Ikon and other religious articles will be available
The original Fort Ross Chapel, built in 1828 and located 100 miles north of San Francisco, is an historical monument of the State of California.
A cross section of a thousand year old redwood log showing important dates in history marked or the annular rings and other educational material round out the landscaped exhibit.

The exhibit will be open daily during regular Fair hours. No reservations are required. Admission is free.

For further information:

Our Lady of Kazan Shrine

2040 Anza Street
San Francisco 18, Calif.

Tel. Bayview 1-5870

After April 1,1964
Russian Orthodox Pavillion
New York World’s Fair
Flushing 52, N.Y.
Tel.AR 1-8223

John I Hennessy
2/17/1964

Tags: Mitchell-Hedges | New York | Russian Orthodox Church | Virgin of Kazan | World Trade Fair