For many years, it was the rector of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Metropolitan Platon (Levshin) of Moscow, who took care of the monastery’s church interiors, valuable utensils and the sacristy, where the church vestments were kept.
In 1763, Empress Catherine II summoned the Metropolitan to court to be the religious instructor of the heir to the throne, Pavel Petrovich, and a court preacher. In January 1768, he was elected a member of the Holy Synod, the highest governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church. A lot of precious pieces created by his order appeared in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.
The bishop commissioned the tabernacle “Zion Chamber ‘with his ‘own funds’, that is, at his own expense, in 1803. It marked the fortieth anniversary of his time in court as a preacher. The structure is a symbolic throne, on which a tabernacle with a sculptural composition ‘The Last Supper’ is mounted — this is the name of the last meal of Jesus Christ with the disciples. The figures are skillfully modeled in gold, but Judas with the silver pouch in his hands is made of gilded bronze.
The tabernacle was intended for the storage of the holy sacraments — the flesh and blood of Christ — sacramental bread and wine.
The tabernacle is crowned with a golden sculpture — the image of Holy Sophia Divine Wisdom with a halo, a cross in her hands and an open book with the inscription: ‘Wisdom hidden in mystery.’ This refers to the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, the consecration of bread and wine for communion. During one of the sermons in the Trinity Cathedral on the day of the Holy Trinity, the Metropolitan Platon said: ‘The temple is sacred! Turn to the Zion Chamber today. May our faith be gladdened by this. In order for this temple to change into the Zion Chamber, change your soul, Christian.’
In 1763, Empress Catherine II summoned the Metropolitan to court to be the religious instructor of the heir to the throne, Pavel Petrovich, and a court preacher. In January 1768, he was elected a member of the Holy Synod, the highest governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church. A lot of precious pieces created by his order appeared in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.
The bishop commissioned the tabernacle “Zion Chamber ‘with his ‘own funds’, that is, at his own expense, in 1803. It marked the fortieth anniversary of his time in court as a preacher. The structure is a symbolic throne, on which a tabernacle with a sculptural composition ‘The Last Supper’ is mounted — this is the name of the last meal of Jesus Christ with the disciples. The figures are skillfully modeled in gold, but Judas with the silver pouch in his hands is made of gilded bronze.
The tabernacle was intended for the storage of the holy sacraments — the flesh and blood of Christ — sacramental bread and wine.
The tabernacle is crowned with a golden sculpture — the image of Holy Sophia Divine Wisdom with a halo, a cross in her hands and an open book with the inscription: ‘Wisdom hidden in mystery.’ This refers to the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, the consecration of bread and wine for communion. During one of the sermons in the Trinity Cathedral on the day of the Holy Trinity, the Metropolitan Platon said: ‘The temple is sacred! Turn to the Zion Chamber today. May our faith be gladdened by this. In order for this temple to change into the Zion Chamber, change your soul, Christian.’
The inscription on the tabernacle reads: " In this Zion there are 9 pounds and 20 zolotniks of gold. 32 pounds and 27 zolotniks of silver. In total, for the material and work 8753 rubles 84 kopecks. Work by the Riga native Roman Ivanovich Neymarn.” The throne on which the tabernacle ‘The Zion Chamber’ rests is decorated with a hammered table cover. The tall legs were originally entwined with vines with leaves and tassels of grapes, but they have not survived to this day.
