Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/44

16 his right hand, was blessing the people. In like manner, the hearer of the other torches cried out, "Macarius, of all goodness, Patriarch of the City of God, Antioch the Great, and of All the East:" and he said, Πολλὰ τὰ ἔτη, three times; whilst the Antiochian also raised his right hand, and blessed the people. Then they put off their μανδύαs (palls); and the Constantinopolitan took the other up with him to his palace, where they dined together. Afterwards, he accompanied his guest to the gate at the lower part of the house, where he parted with him; and the Antiochian returned to his monastery, in a very happy disposition of mind.

On the morning of the afore-mentioned Sunday, we repaired again to the same church; and the Metropolitans came out to the court-yard to meet our master: and having robed him in his μανδύα (pall), they went before and behind him into the church, two silver candlesticks being carried before him. On his entry, he gave his blessing to the congregation, and went and stood at his throne. After the Πᾶσα πνοὴ (Every breath), the Constantinopolitan descended from his throne to kiss the images and impart his blessing to the congregation; and after him the Antiochian: then the chief priests, two by two: afterwards the priests and the rest of the congregation paid their devotions to the images. For in all the country of Greece, in Moldavia and in Wallachia, there is not a single person who does not kiss the images at this time of the early morning; and afterwards at the end of the mass, when they have received the Ἀντίδωρα (the sanctified bread), even to the women and children. As in our country, they go out after the mass; but here they go out also after the Ὄρθρον (Matins), and return in two hours time. When the deacon has thrown incense at the Alleluia, he descends from the Tabernacle and incenses the Patriarch at his throne; and then receives from him a Κορώνη, for the reading of the Gospel. Afterwards he incenses the doors of the Tabernacle and the images, and goes in to take the Gospel from the hand of the Minister: then coming out with it from the north door, he ascends the Ἄμϐων (pulpit), which is on the north side of the church. The chaplains draw out to a great length the chaunt Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη Δέσποτα (May the years of our Lord be many); whilst the deacon descends from the Ἄμϐων (pulpit), and, coming to the Patriarch, presents him the Gospel to kiss. They repeat several times, at the end of the Prone, "O ye Catechumens (ϰατηχούμενοι, admonished), go out." In the middle of the Prone is the Συνέπετε; that is, when he says at the end of the prayer for peace, "We pray to the Lord," he joins to it, "For the salvation of his Highness," and, "For the salvation of the whole world," "For this consecrated house," "For the Patriarch," "For the Emperor and Empress," and