Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/392

366

the second Saturday after our entrance into the capital, and the third of Ishbât, Kyr Nicon, Patriarch of Moscow, returned to his palace, after an absence since the month of Ab, which he had passed in the fields and forests, through fear of the plague; until he went afterwards with the Empress to Viazma, where the Emperor was, having returned from the country of the Poles; and where he stayed to keep the Festivals of the Nativity and Immersion, awaiting the disappearance of all traces of the plague from the capital, in which it continued its ravages until Christmas. We rejoiced much at the coming of the Patriarch: and this was the first piece of good news, and the first of our joys, after great solicitude, anguish, and anxiety. Soon afterwards a report was spread of the speedy arrival of the Emperor; and in the afternoon of Friday, the ninth of Ishbât, the Empress re-entered her palace.

On the morning of Saturday, the tenth of Ishbât, the Grandees and troops arranged themselves in order to meet the Emperor, who had slept the preceding night in one of his imperial palaces distant only five versts from the city. Early in the morning of this day he arose, and came to a monastery dedicated to St. Andrew of Stratila, in the vicinity of the town, where he assisted at a Παράκλησις; on his going out from which, all the city bells began to ring, as the place was so near: and the Patriarch went forth in his cope and mitre, with the Deacons holding him by the arms according to their custom, and enclosing him with the banners, crosses, and numerous images, carried by the Priests in their copes before him; and the Archbishop of Razainov, with four Archimandrites in their copes and mitres, behind him. The whole Clergy of the capital, and the great Cross carried in its stand by one of the Deacons, were near him. Advancing all together, they met the Emperor at the earthen