Translation of a Russian medal found in France
Hello somebody in my village in France (Vosges) has found close to a tree, glass filled with ground and inside a medal.
This medal represents the Virgin Mary with child. It of marked there something on the medal into Cyrillic.
But I do not know if it is former Russian or ukrainien.
I board marked on a sheet what had marked above, but that may be that they are not the exact letters because I do not know the Cyrillic one and it is rather difficult to read what marked.
Here before medal:
http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0574as.jpg
And Back:
http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0585ce.jpg
I board successful to translate one word МАТИ: Marie or mother, the remainder I do not arrive there. That would help me much if somebody could translate it.
I wanted to also know if there were a tradition in Russia to bury deaths with glass. I know that 45000 Russian came to France to fight during the First World War. Thus if it is the case that could be perhaps that a Russian soldier was buried here during the First World War.
Thanks
Re: Translation of a Russian medal found in France
This is a prayer to the Virgin Mary; probably a good luck/protection charm of sorts.
The language is not Russian, most likely it's Church Slavonic which is used by the Orthodox Church. Or Ukrainian in pre-1918 writing. Some words are not correct Ukrainian, but it is close. I do not know Church Slavonic.
it reads smth like (close but not exact, i am not good with religious english terminology): (front): "Oh miraculous Mother of God, help us and do not leave us without your holy protection", (back): "Miraculous Mother of God in Goshow (sp?? probably the place where the original icon painting is located)".