Aleksandr Lebedev

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Not the sort of thing (or era) I'd normally collect, but the completeness seduced my "magpie urges" to accumulate shiney things.

Father Alexander Lebedev , St. Sergius Monastery, Moscow.

-- Medal for Zeal – Nicholas II, in silver, 1894-19
-- Medal for Efforts in the First General Census of the Population

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Him, with an enhanced closeup.

The photo is of Priest Alexander Lebedev wearing his cross and medals. This picture was taken on 20 May 20 1898, when he was 30 years old. The photo was taken at the photo shop at St. Sergius Monastery, called New Lavra Shoppe, located rather near Moscow.

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The group came with a bronze chain (once silvered) and a porcelain icon.

Slavonic inscriptions on the back of this cross read "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. The beautifully linked chain measures 43 inches and the crucifix itself measures 4 3/4" in height, 2 1/2" in width and 1/8" in thickness.